Better Than the Lions

 

“The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

—Psalm 34:10

No, this blog post isn’t about preferring one sports team above another. The title is based on these words of King David found in Psalm 34:10:

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

In David’s day, the lion was the most powerful and most feared animal. No mere human could ever hope to stand up to a lion. Although, we do know from Scripture that David had certainly faced lions when he was protecting his sheep out in the Galilean hills. And, we also know that God closed the mouths of the lions that inhabited the den into which Daniel was thrown. Nevertheless, lions represent a force of nature with which humans must not trifle.

No matter how powerful lions may be, they still needed to eat. If they didn’t eat, these powerful lions would grow weak and lose their strength. But, David contrasts this status of the lions with those who seek the Lord. David asserts that God-seekers lack no good thing. Why? The answer is because God supplies all they need.

As we begin another new day, let’s count ourselves among those who seek the Lord. As “God-seekers,” we will surely experience the reality that we will lack nothing in our lives. God will truly supply all our needs.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Fear the Lord

 

“Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.”

—Psalm 34:9

We generally think of the word “fear” as meaning “afraid.” But, in actual fact, the word “fear” has a much broader definition.

As a transitive verb, fear means to frighten, to feel fear in oneself, to have reverential awe, to be afraid of or expect alarm. As an intransitive verb, fear means to be afraid of or be apprehensive of. Okay. I get it. You want to know what a transitive and intransitive verb is. Right?

A transitive verb is one that is used with an object: a noun, phrase, or pronoun that refers to the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb. An intransitive verb does not have a direct object.

Notice what King David wrote in Psalm 34:9:

Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

In this sentence, the word “fear” takes a direct object “the Lord.” So, the word “fear” is a transitive verb. And, instead of evoking a sense of apprehension, the word intends to capture a sense of great reverence. That reverence is borne out of the fact that God is the all-powerful creator of the universe. His power is beyond our comprehension. In fact, every one of His qualities is beyond our comprehension.

Just as His power and might boggle our minds, so does His great love for us. He truly is to be perceived with great reverence. So, David indicates that those who possess great reverence for the Lord are the ones who lack nothing.

As we begin another new day, let’s recognize that our reverence for the God who loved us enough to sacrifice His one and only Son in our behalf is a worthy response to who He is. And, as a result, He gives us everything we need so that we lack nothing.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Come! Taste and See!

 

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

—Psalm 34:8

Has anyone ever invited you to come to his or her home at a particular time so that he or she could share a tasty meal with you? Most likely you have had just such an experience. The hospitality of good food and good conversation really can’t be beat.

King David clearly recognized that the relationship he had with the God who had chosen David to be king was one that mirrored an experience of rich hospitality. Notice what David wrote in Psalm 34:8:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

It is not beyond reason to say that God is our banquet. He has set a table before us and invites us to come to Him for rest, refreshment, and the very best hospitality available in all of the universe. He who has created all things invites us to come to His table and enjoy fellowship, along with protection and refuge.

As we begin each new day, we can do so knowing that we always have a place at God’s table. He waits to welcome us to come and sit with Him a while. He gladly provides what we need and offers us the very best sustenance available.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Encamped Around

 

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”

—Psalm 34:7

When you go to sleep at night, do you like to have the covers all pulled up around you. It’s almost like a cocoon of warmth and protection. Most of us enjoy the feeling of security that a nice cozy blanket can provide, especially when it’s cooler during the night.

King David recognized that in the depth of his misery and trouble, God had provided a covering around him that was even more secure than a warm blanket on a cold night. That covering of protection came from the presence of the angel of the Lord.

Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:7:

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

As followers of the Great King Jesus, we “Christ’s-ones” have that same strong protection surrounding us, as well. God puts His guarding angel in charge of us to keep us all the days of our lives. We can move forward each day, secure in the knowledge that we are protected.

So, as we come to the start of this new day, let’s remember to give thanks to God for His protection. And also, let’s remember that we most certainly are under the guardianship of the God who loves us with His eternal love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Call of a Poor Man

 

“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”

—Psalm 34:6

Have you ever felt so worthless that you believed if you were to ask someone for help they would refuse? I hope not. Yet, I know our world is filled with people who feel utterly useless, completely worthless, and absolutely hopeless.

We who follow Jesus have a particular responsibility to reach out to those who feel that they have no worth and no hope. We have a wellspring of value and hope because God has chosen us to belong to Himself through His precious Son, Jesus. Therefore, we are compelled to share what God has given us with others.

King David knew what it was to feel that everything he valued had been taken away from him. He believed there was no one who would help him, except for God. David knew that God would never reject him. That’s why David wrote these words found in Psalm 34:6:

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

As we begin a new day, let’s remember the lesson David teaches us in this verse of Psalm 34. God stands ready to help us. When we feel like no one knows and no one cares, God loves us, cares for us, and longs for us to ask Him to help us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Radiant Faces

 

“Those who look to him [God] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

—Psalm 34:5

Can you spot someone who is feeling great joy? I imagine you can. There is just something about the way he or she looks. We often say he or she is radiant.

I remember my mother often telling my dad on our way home from church on Sunday that she thought such and such a mother was pregnant. “She’s just glowing,” my mom would say. And, she was usually right. In just a few weeks, the announcement of an impending birth would spread through the church.

New brides and grooms often have “that look” about them that says they’re feeling significant joy. Their smiles radiate the love that they feel for each other. In fact, that feeling of being deeply loved tends to affect how they relate to other people, as well.

It should come as no surprise that King David would use such an image to describe the relationship that those chosen by God have with Him. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:5:

Those who look to him [God] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

A follower of Jesus can receive no greater a compliment than to hear someone say, “When I look at you, I see Jesus.” The radiance of Christ’s divine Presence within a believe is surely a mark of great joy.

As we begin a new day, let’s not be afraid to show the joy that dwells within us because God has chosen us to belong to Himself. We have every good reason to have radiant faces, filled with overflowing joy.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Answered Me

 

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

—Psalm 34:4

Did you ever ask someone a question and have them seemingly refuse to answer? Perhaps you asked your son or daughter to take out the trash. In response to your request you heard, well, nothing.

You looked to see if your son or daughter had on earphones and was listening to music. No, no earphones. You looked to see if he or she was watching television and did not hear your request. No, the TV was muted for a commercial. So, you asked your question again. And, once again, you heard no response.

Your frustration level began to rise. The third time you asked your son or daughter to take out the trash, your voice rose with a tinge of anger. I’m not going to speculate whether or not you received a response. It is just as likely that you didn’t get an answer than if you did.

God is not at all like that. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 34:4:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

When we seek an answer from God, He always answers us. Now, we may not like the answer we receive. But, we always get an answer.

“Wait a minute,” you say. “I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed about something and I don’t feel that God has ever answered me.”

But, don’t you see? God has seemingly remained silent, yet in a sense, He has answered you. By His silence He is urging you to keep praying and to wait on His timing. As the days pass, you will find that God’s plan for your situation will unfold slowly and carefully right before your eyes.

Other times, the answer that God gives us may appear as exactly the opposite of the answer for which we hoped and desired. Nevertheless, God’s answer will ultimately always prove out as the best possible answer we could have received from Him. This is because He always has our best interest in mind.

As we begin a new day, let’s not hesitate to make our requests known to God. In His loving and caring way, He will always answer us with the right answer—the one we really need.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Call to Worship

 

“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”

—Psalm 34:3

The church you attend may no longer have a formal “Call to Worship.” Instead, particularly if you attend a church that uses Contemporary Christian Music, you may have a praise song that calls the congregation to worship.

I happen to attend an Evangelical Presbyterian Church that, unlike many churches of that denomination, uses a semi-liturgical form of worship and more traditional church music. We begin each Worship Service with a responsive “Call to Worship” led by a Liturgist—usually the Pastor.

Often based on a Psalm, the Call to Worship consists of the Liturgist reading one line from the Psalm and the congregation reading the next line, back and forth, with the last line often consisting of the words, “Let us worship God!”

The Psalms are overflowing with words that can easily comprise a Call to Worship. One of those passages is found in Psalm 34:3:

Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

What a fitting way to begin a time of corporate worship. We invite each other to glorify the Lord and join together to exalt His name.

As we begin this new day, we can also call ourselves to worship by reading appropriate Psalms. Then, we can spend a few moments telling God what we appreciate about Him. Such an effort on our part is time well spent at the beginning of a new day. We consciously place the focus of our lives back on God. We remind ourselves, and Him, how important He is to us. And, we reap the benefit of knowing that we have told Him how much we love and appreciate Him for exactly who He is in our lives.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Boasting in the Lord

 

“My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.”

—Psalm 34:2

What do you suppose the Psalmist means when he writes these words in Psalm 34:2:

My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Said another way, what does it mean to “boast in the Lord”?

When we boast, we tell others how wonderful we are, what we’ve accomplished, or what other people think about us. When we boast in the Lord we tell others how wonderful God is, what He has accomplished in our lives, and what other people we know think about Him. It’s really that simple.

The Psalmist indicates that because of all that God has done for him, he simply cannot help himself but to always take every opportunity to tell others about the gracious goodness of the Lord. The Psalmist literally boasts about how wonderful God is. And, as a result, all who hear these affirming words rejoice. For, if God has been so very good to the Psalmist, surely God will be very good to them, as well.

As we begin another new day, let’s take our cue from the Psalmist. Let’s determine to boast in the Lord. Let’s gently and tenderly tell others how good God has been to us. Let’s share the many times He has given us aid, direction, sustenance, and love. Surely those who hear our testimony of God’s greatness will rejoice.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Ever-Praising Lips

 

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”

—Psalm 34:1

Have you ever worked with someone for a while and later thought, “There is not enough good things I can say about him or her”? You were so impressed with that individual that there was no limit to the good words that you might say about that person.

That’s what our relationship with God is like. He is so wonderful, so marvelous, so magnificent that there is absolutely no limit of the good things we can say about Him. Certainly the Psalmist agrees and has stated this very theme in Psalm 34:1:

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

The dictionary defines the word “extol” as “to praise enthusiastically, to praise highly, to glorify.” It seems very fitting that the Psalmist would use this word to describe how he felt about God.

Not only does the Psalmist intend to praise God enthusiastically, he plans to do so at all times. In fact, he declares that praise for God will always be on his lips.

As we begin a new day, we do well to praise God at all times. We do very well if we constantly remind ourselves, and others, how wonderful He is. He means everything to us. And, that, dear ones, is exactly as it should be.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Way of Truth

 

“I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.”

—Psalm 119:30

Have you ever noticed that the more often you purposely set aside the truth and, instead, tell a lie how very easy it becomes? Lying is one of the simplest of sins. It takes almost no effort to tell a falsehood. In contrast, many times it takes a determined effort to carefully tell the truth.

Truth is the gateway to the heart of God. He is truth. Everything about Him is true. He never lies. He never deceives. He never speaks, except to share the truth. In fact, God’s way is the way of truth.

It is no wonder that the Psalmist embodied this lesson in Psalm 119:30:

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.

As we begin a new day, let’s determine to remember that God’s way is the way of truth. If we stick only to the truth, we will do well in our efforts to please God.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

What It Means To Follow Jesus

 

“And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

—Matthew 10:38-39

I often use the phrase “followers of Jesus” in writing one of my blog posts. Recently, I received an email that asked me if I could more precisely define what I meant by that term. So, I’m going to try to do exactly that.

Literally, a follower of Jesus is one who endeavors to find out as much about Jesus as possible: what He had to say, how He would act, what core principles ruled His life, what instructions He might have given. Armed with this knowledge, a follower of Jesus will then attempt to speak like Jesus would speak, walk the road of life in the same manner that Jesus did, treat others like Jesus did, develop the same core principles for life that Jesus developed. A follower of Jesus is literally emulating the life of Christ in that person’s own reality.

Jesus often gave us clues in Scripture as to how He expected His followers to live. For example, please take note of this passage found in Matthew 10:38-39:

And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The cross of Calvary was the greatest burden the Lord Jesus Christ had to bear. For on that cross, He bore the sins of all humankind, paying the penalty for our sins. In a similar manner, every human has a cross to bear in life. It begins with the sin nature we inherited from Adam and continues on as we sin purposefully in our own lives. In these two verses, Jesus is telling us that to follow Him we must pick up our cross and walk in the way He would walk. He also shares an important truth when He reminds us that only by losing our lives—that is, giving Him control of our lives—will we find out what life is really all about.

We can only know life as God intends it when we consciously put aside our own selfish wills and seek to allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to control the way we live. Therefore, it makes sense, at the beginning of this new day, that we should do just that. Are you with me?

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Directed Footsteps

 

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.”

—Psalm 119:133

In the course of my 50+ years of working in fire protection, I have only once encountered an instruction manual that I thought was written in a very helpful, detailed, yet easy-to-read style. Sadly, the company and the personnel who produced that manual, due to changes and market forces beyond their control, has passed from the scene. I still have a copy of that manual in my files. It is truly a work of art, yet highly functional at the same time.

The problem with even excellent instructions is that if a user does not follow those instructions carefully, the user will often do something that totally defeats the most effective use of a product or service. That’s why diligent reading, study, and application go hand in hand.

As followers of the living Lord Jesus Christ, we Christians—or, “Christ’s-ones”—need to follow the leading of God in our lives. He has given us instruction in the full counsel of His written Word, the Bible.

Yes, I know that some Christians do not believe the Bible is inerrant, that is, without error. Others, often because the vision of God that they created for their lives did not live up to their preconceived notions, have decided to pick and choose from this Scripture passage or that one in order to construct a “God” more to their liking, or political agenda, or personal sensitivities. Such actions always deeply sadden me.

The truth is that God has given us quite adequate instruction through every verse in Scripture that will inform the pathway of our lives, if we but trust in the words and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, who dwells with in each one who truly believes.

The Psalmist understood this concept. Notice what he prayed to God, as recorded in Psalm 119:133:

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

As we begin a new day, let’s pray this prayer. Then, let’s open our eyes, hearts, and minds to see what God will do in response.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Tongue Control

 

“The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”

—Proverbs 10:32

The words we speak can either heal or hurt. Jay Wickre, writing in the Dubious Musings of a Peculiar Man, offers these wise words: “A bitter man needs to place his troubles on the front of his tongue so that they taste sweeter.” As an observer of the behavior of various people who have crossed the pathway of my life, that statement rings true to me. Yes, words can either heal or hurt.

King Solomon understood this. Notice what he writes in Proverbs 10:32:

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

The natural question arises: Does our speech properly reflect our state of righteousness? Or, do we continue to utter inappropriate words at inappropriate times?

I remember an occasion in a work meeting many years ago, when I asked a question in frustration because I couldn’t imagine why the others in the room seemed so unable to grasp the concept the individual was sharing. My question drew a sharp retort from another at the table.

Fifteen minutes later, following a lengthy intervening discussion during which I remained silent, another person spoke during a pause in the discussion. He said, “I am finally catching up with where Dean was a while back.” He went on to perfectly explain the concept that the others in the meeting still had not grasped.

I thought about that incident a great deal over the next few days. I realized—and I believe this is a gift from God—that, in certain circumstances regarding very concrete topics, I tend to grasp the concepts much quicker than many other people who may well be even smarter than I am. So, I learned from that experience to try to hold myself in check when such circumstances arise.

Sadly, as those who must still interact with me realize, I fail to do what I intend far more often than I succeed. All too often, when it comes to specific tasks or factual discussions, I am ruled by my own impatience.

Now, if the topic had involved human emotions, or social situations, or any of a large number of other topics, I would be the one lagging behind. I am very ignorant when it comes to understanding the nuances of social relationships. Therefore, you can be certain that I will tend to keep more quiet in those situations.

As we begin a new day, we do well to check our speech to see if it reflects the righteousness that God has given us through His Son, Jesus. We must guard our tongues, so that we only speak words that are helpful, encouraging, and healing. We must cast aside all words that might hurt others.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Forever Following

 

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

—Psalm 23:6

Have you ever had someone show so much interest in you that they just wouldn’t leave you alone? It wasn’t that they had any evil intent. It was just that they seemed to enjoy your company so much that they would hardly give you space to breathe.

I am told that in the early stages of many male/female relationships, women often feel that their latest love interest has started to overwhelm them, even suffocate them. The man might have good intentions, wanting to show his devotion and the magnitude of his interest. But, smothering someone with whom you are trying to spark a mutual relationship almost never works.

On the other hand, there are some qualities in life that we may wish to have following us. King David expressed this well at the end of his famous Psalm, specifically Psalm 23:6:

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Having laid out the blessings of a relationship with God in the earlier verses of this Psalm, David brings this song of praise to a conclusion by declaring the benefit the derives from everything else he talks about in this Psalm.

As we take off on another new day, let’s pray and ask God to grant us these two “followers” in our lives. Let’s welcome God’s gift of goodness and love. Then, let’s share those gifts with the people who cross the pathway of our lives.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Table of Blessing

 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

—Psalm 23:5

Psalm 23 is possibly the most well-known passage of Scripture. It contains a lovely cadence that unfolds a beautiful pastoral image of the Good Shepherd caring for His beloved sheep.

Among the many extraordinary images of this Psalm are these words, found in Psalm 23:5:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Even though we may be surrounded by the powers of darkness that seek to destroy us, God always prepares a feast of blessing for us. He anoints us with a protective covering of the blood of His precious one and only Son, Jesus.

As we begin another new day, we should remain aware that the enemies who would confound us have no power over us because Jesus has conquered sin, death, and Satan. We can go forth this day into the world with full confidence that God has laid a table of blessing for us. In fact, the blessings from God flow into our lives continually.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Desires Granted

 

“What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.”

—Proverbs 10:24

“How does a person get what he or she really wants in life?” The guest speaker at the convention of adult training experts caused a hush to fall over the room. “You just take it!” A few people began to applaud. Soon, the entire room full of people had risen to their feet to give the guest speaker a standing ovation. But, the speaker was wrong.

The only true way to get what one wants in life does not come from a preemptive taking. It comes from living a life worthy of receiving what one desires. And, only through faith in God and devotion to Him can any human hope to live a worthy life.

Notice what King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 10:24:

What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Righteousness precedes the granting of desires. Obedience to God’s will and His written Word gives a believer the opportunity to receive from God the desires of that one’s heart.

As we begin another new day, let’s determine to follow the pathway of obedience, knowing that it leads to us receiving the deepest desires of our hearts. When we live totally in sync with God’s perfect will, His desires for us become our desires. And, that’s the best possible place for us to be in this life.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Price of Belonging

 

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

—Luke 9:23

Every organization worth belonging to has its own dues structure. It costs something in time or treasure to belong to something worthwhile. The question each person who belongs must ask himself or herself: “Is the price of belonging worth the benefits I receive?”

Belonging to God through His Son, Jesus, has a price, as well. Notice what Jesus said, as recorded in Luke 9:23:

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

To deny one’s self means to set aside an individual’s selfish human will and yield to God’s perfect, divine will. We do this through the enablement of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us the ability to set aside our natural human will and follow the pathway that God lays out before us through His perfect will and His written Word.

As we begin another new day, we need to renew our intention to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. As we do so, we have the opportunity to be more like Him. We can speak as He would speak, act as He would act, and do what He would do. By becoming more Christ-like, we have the opportunity of truly serving the Kingdom of God in the most effective way possible.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Longer Conformed

 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

—Romans 12:1-2

Each time another day begins, we have a new opportunity to choose to live like Jesus would have us live. We can decide to lay aside our devotion to Christ. Or, we can decide to do our very best to speak, think, and act as Jesus would speak, think, and act.

By choosing to conform to the life of Jesus, we give up our natural human bent toward tightly molding our lives to the world of sin and darkness. Following the light of Christ dispels the hold that sin has over us. We walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light. We put darkness behind us and move confidently into a new way of living.

Notice the words the Apostle Paul wrote in the familiar passage of Scripture found in Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God waits patiently to renew our minds. He longs to renew our minds. He wants to renew our minds. So, at the beginning of this new day, we should welcome Him and invite Him to renew our minds. We can allow the mind of Jesus to become our way of speaking, thinking, and acting. And, that is the very best way to live.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Obedience = Love

 

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

—John 14:21

I written often on this blog regarding the only requirement that God has given those He has called to Himself. Even though He pours out His mercy, grace, and abiding love on us and has redeemed us through the shed blood of His one and only Son, Jesus, God only asks one thing of us: obedience. God wants us to obey His will and His written Word.

Jesus confirmed this when He told His disciples these words, found in John 14:21:

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

In a climate of obedience, love flows freely back to God from those of us He has called to Himself. Before the foundation of the earth, God chose us to belong to Himself. In due season, God sent His Holy Spirit to reveal to us what His Son, Jesus, has done for us by paying the penalty for our sins. Once the Spirit gives us the ability to apprehend that truth, He comes and lives in our hearts and minds.

This new reality for us grants us the privilege of showing God our love through our obedience to His written Word and to His perfect, divine will. We learn to bend our selfish human wills to His perfect will. In so doing, we show God love. We also experience the benefits of belonging to Him.

As we begin a new day, we need to constantly remain aware of God’s Presence in our lives and the joy we bring Him each time we obediently follow the pathway He has laid out before us.

 

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