Tomorrow, Tomorrow

 

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

—Proverbs 27:1

In our lives, tomorrows play a significant role. I can remember as a child always looking forward to something that would happen in the future. My dad used to tell me, “Son, don’t wish your life away.” In other words, don’t focus so much on what will happen in the future that you miss what’s happening right now. That was actually good advice—and it’s still good advice.

Nevertheless, we all spend time thinking about tomorrow and what might happen in the future. During certain times of the year, we look forward to celebrating holidays. I still can hardly get my mind around the fact that, in our culture of today, Christmas decorations, even visits from Santa Claus, now come in late October, or even earlier. It’s as if we can’t wait a few weeks anymore. We have to begin focusing on what’s coming as early as possible. Tomorrow plays such an important part in most of our lives.

Do you know the song “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie? It’s actually quite a delightful song, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Here are the lyrics:

The sun will come outTomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There’ll be sun!

Just thinkin’ about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
’Til there’s none!

When I’m stuck with a day
That’s grey,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh

The sun will come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
’Til tomorrow
Come what may

Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!

You’re always
A day
Away!

Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!

You’re always
A day
Away!

In contrast with our natural human interest in tomorrow, King Solomon offers these wise words, found in Proverbs 27:1:

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

As we begin another new day, let’s stay focused on today. Tomorrow will eventually come. But, until it does, we need to stay in the here and now. For right now is when we have the most opportunity to impact someone else’s life. We should not squander that opportunity because we’re focusing too much on tomorrow.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Special Weapons

 

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

—2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Several popular television programs feature the S.W.A.T. team of various real or fictional police departments. Most of you realize that “S.W.A.T.” is an acronym for “Special Weapons and Tactics.” These highly trained police officers are equipped with an unusual array of weapons, along with the special tactics to use them in the most critical of situations.

Just as a tradesman may have tools available to him or her that an ordinary individual might not, so the S.W.A.T. team has weapons, tools, training, and tactics available that ordinary police officers would not have. The S.W.A.T. team can handle a wide variety of critical incidents in the most efficient and effective manner.

I remember during my time at Houghton College in the mid-1960s, where, in addition to being a student, I was also a member of the College’s staff, serving as Director of Auditorium Operations for the John and Charles Wesley Memorial Chapel-Auditorium. I worked closely with a number of the members of the College’s maintenance staff. On one occasion, one of the College’s mechanics was expressing delight that another mechanic had acquired a wide variety of special tools to make his job easier. “He even owns a steering wheel puller,” my friend remarked with amazement.

Now, I had no idea what a steering wheel puller looked like. But, from its name, I could image what it did. Up to that moment, I had never thought about how difficult it might be to remove a steering wheel in a vehicle without such a specialized tool. My mechanic friend explained how very difficult it was to keep an even pulling pressure on a steering wheel without the specialized tool.

In our spiritual lives, we are in a constant battle against sin and Satan. Our enemy wants to destroy us by luring us into patterns that become besetting sins. We must fight against Satan’s clever wiles. To do so, God has given us spiritual tools—just the right ones—to win the battle against pervasive evil. The Apostle Paul makes this very point in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Just think about that for a moment: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” That is a truly powerful statement. It indicates how specialized the tools of battle that God has given us. Why these tools even surpass the ones used by the most highly trained S.W.A.T. team.

As we begin a new day, let’s focus on the tools that God has given us to defeat our enemy. Let’s apply those tools whenever we find ourselves tempted to pursue sin. And, let’s claim victory in the name of Jesus. After all, He is the One who has conquered sin, death, and Satan. And, He did so in our behalf.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Safely Hidden

 

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

—Psalm 32:7

Those of us whom God has called to Himself and have become His dearly loved children, through the sacrifice and blood of God’s Son, Jesus, have many, many reasons to praise and thank God for who He is and for what He has done for us. In fact, we meet for worship each week precisely so that, as a corporate body of believers, we can do just that. But, it is also good for us, as we begin each new day, to choose some one thing that God has done for us and thank Him for His goodness toward us.

In my own life, I could choose to thank Him for preserving my life in the face of serious health issues. God has literally snatched me from death on several occasions. I believe God has done this for me because He is not yet finished using me in this life—hopefully and solely for His glory.

Throughout the Psalms, we find songs written to praise God for specific things He is to the Psalmist, or for specific things He has done for the Psalmist. In our Scripture passage for today, we find just such a declaration of praise and thanksgiving. Notice what King David has written in Psalm 32:7:

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Here David acknowledges that God provides a safe place in which David can hide from those who would destroy him. He also gives praise that God celebrates David’s deliverance from those enemies by singing songs of deliverance.

Can you imagine how beautiful God’s singing voice must be? One of the most magnificent things we will experience in eternity is that we will hear God sing. I have a strong sense that each of us will hear a very unique and powerful singing voice that will touch the deepest part of our hearts and fill us with wonder, awe, and insurmountable joy.

As we begin this new day, let’s remember to thank God for some special thing He has done for us. We can never overdo our praise. God wants to hear our words of thanksgiving and praise. They rise to Him like the aroma of sweet incense. The cherubim who surround God’s throne hear our words of praise and then echo them back in a chorus that magnifies our praise. And that, dear ones, is a sound that causes all eternity to stop what they’re doing so they can hear the breathtaking majesty of praise to God.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God Will Give Us Strength

 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

—Ephesians 6:10

Watching a true craftsman at work always proves instructive. I can remember visiting the shop of a cabinet maker in my home town. My dad had trained as a journeyman carpenter and eventually hung up his tool belt in favor of selling appliances and later hotel and restaurant supplies. But, my dad always told me the best carpenters were the cabinet makers.

As I watched this skilled craftsman work on what would become a fine piece of furniture, I saw him use tools that I had never seen before. These were specialized tools designed to make some intricate part of cabinet making go more efficiently and more smoothly. I also recognized that the way the cabinet maker approached each task was the result of thousands of hours of working to perfect his craft.

On another occasion, I watched a journeyman plumber install some water piping. Again I saw specialized tools that made the task easier and more efficient. But, I also again saw the level of skill that this plumber had acquired over thousands of hours of work.

In removing a particularly tight joint, the plumber changed up his normal pipe wrench for one much larger. I realized that he was using a principle of physics to gain greater leverage to break apart the joint that may have sat there for thirty years or more. The larger wrench gave the plumber the leverage he needed to loosen the joint. He also made good use of the helper he had brought with him to the job. For there were certain task that one person could not do alone. Even this very skilled workman needed help—additional strength—to complete the task.

God has given us the ability to draw strength from Him when we need help to complete the work He has given us to do on His behalf. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote the words found in Ephesians 6:10:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

We who belong to God through His precious Son, Jesus, do not need to rely solely on our own abilities and strength. We can fully trust God to give us His strength to complete whatever task He has called us to do.

As we begin this new day, let’s remember that we need not do God’s work by ourselves. He is willing to give us His eternal and almighty strength to finish whatever task we have begun. That should enable us to proceed without hesitation in doing His work in this needy world.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Struggling Against Evil

 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

—Ephesians 6:12

When a soldier goes into battle, it is important that he or she knows who the enemy is. That was one of the very frustrating things that happened during the Viet Nam War. My friends who fought in that conflict tell many stories of how very difficult it was to tell the difference between individuals who were fighting for the enemy and individuals who were our allies in the fight.

Unlike previous wars where uniforms made it relatively easy to tell who was the enemy, the conflict in Viet Nam and almost all subsequent wars have not relied on typical conventions that would make it clear who the enemy is. This makes the job of those defending freedom very difficult.

In our spiritual lives, we sometimes lose sight of who our enemy is. Satan’s desire is to destroy us. But, we sometimes let his diversionary tactics catch our eye and take us off course. It is important that we never forget who our enemy is. That’s what prompted the Apostle Paul to write these words found in Ephesians 6:12:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

As we begin a new day, let’s keep a sharp focus on who wants to destroy us. Let’s not forget who our enemy is. Then, let’s cling tightly to the One who loves us with His everlasting and unfailing love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Armor On!

 

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

—Ephesians 6:11

One does not enter scary places without first putting on appropriate protective clothing. I learned that in the very first hour of training to be a fire fighter back in the fall of 1965. In the intervening more than half a century, great advances have occurred in the design of protective clothing for fire fighters. When fire fighters enter a burning building today, they have the best protective clothing that science can provide.

In our spiritual lives, we begin each day by walking out into a world that is filled with evil. Every turn along the road of life potentially exposes us to danger from the enemy who desires to destroy us. We do well to remember that one does not enter scary places without first putting on appropriate protective clothing.

This is the same message that the Apostle Paul tried to communicate with the Christians worshipping at Ephesus. Notice Paul’s words found in Ephesians 6:11:

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

As we begin this new day, let’s make certain that we put on the full armor of God. We can fill our minds and hearts with God’s written Word. We can rely on the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, to give us what we need to remain protected. And, we can resist falling into the trap of besetting sins that Satan often uses to hinder and injure us.

Fully equipped as soldiers of Christ, we can move out into the world ready to share the good news of the salvation that God has provided through His Son. And, we can bathe each other in much prayer, asking God to keep us safe as we endeavor to serve Him with all of our beings.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Live Carefully

 

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

—Ephesians 5:15-16

Do you obey warning signs? I am tempted to opine that you probably obey most warning signs unless you happen to have a Concrete-Random Mind Style^™, as described in the ground-breaking work by Phenomenologist Anthony F. Gregorc, Ph.D. People with the Concrete-Random Mind Style^™ tend to sincerely believe that rules do not apply to them. Rules, they believe, apply to lesser mortals.

Fortunately, only a relatively small number of people in the overall population have the Concrete-Random Mind Style^™. The rest of us usually obey most warning signs. If we’re told that some piece of machinery is dangerous, we stay back and keep our distance. If we’re told that a chemical might easily catch fire, we keep sources of ignition well away from that chemical.

In the spiritual realm, our sin nature that we inherited from Adam—and which we have done a pretty good job of perfecting on our own—keeps us from heeding certain warning signs that God places in our pathway. Most of these warnings come from God’s written Word, the Bible. One example is contained within the words of the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 5:15-16:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Here, Paul enjoins “Christ’s-ones” to make a determination to live wisely and, by so doing, make the most of every opportunity God may give us to represent Him to a needy and dying world. Our motivation comes forth when we recognize that the days in which we live are evil days.

The late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King contributed many wonderful and profound words that have guided several generations of people toward a more harmonious relationship with each other. While some still cling to the idea that we are divided along racial lines, I only have to look at my own life to realize how far we have come over the course of the last 50 years. Nevertheless, I realize that some have still bolstered the idea that people of non-Caucasian races are always and forever at a disadvantage. If that claim has any truth at all, it is based more on behavior than race, more on class than race, more on news media coverage than race, more on politics than race.

But, in my opinion, one of the statements of Dr. King that is often quoted does not fully ring true to the teachings of Scripture. This phrase comes from King’s use of a quotation developed by Unitarian minister and prominent American Transcendentalist, Theodore Parker, who first used the phrase in a series of ten sermons he published in 1853. In one of those sermons, Parker wrote: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” As a Universalist who believed in the ultimate full reconciliation between all humans and God, it is easy to understand why Parker might have made such an assertion.

However, if one takes that phrase purely in the temporal sense—that is in the sense of the “here and now,”—I would have to strongly disagree. Within the context of our present world, there are many situations where evil has prevailed and will continue to prevail until Christ returns at the end of the age.

For example, take the matter of income redistribution. Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 26:11 and Mark 14:7: “The poor you will always have with you…” Now the context of this verse has to do with the way a woman chose to use her financial resources: whether to buy expensive perfume to anoint Jesus just prior to His death and burial, or give that money to feed the poor. Nevertheless, the concept that Jesus emphasized has always proven true throughout all the pages of history. Some people will be rich, others will be poor, still others will be somewhere in the middle of the economic continuum. There will not come a day, no matter what schemes humans may try to devise, whereby everyone will have equal financial resources. Even within the context of Marxist Communism, every application of that flawed theory has always produced a larger and ever-growing number of poor people and an ever-smaller number of rich people who retain control of the systems of production and justice within a nation so enslaved by that philosophy.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, Dr. King’s quoted statement only has true application if it is viewed within the never-ending hourglass of eternity. Once Christ returns and the full reality of His Kingdom is realized, including the rewarding of His followers and the casting into utter darkness of all those who have failed to bend their knee in fealty to the Great King, will it be possible to achieve true and lasting justice.

As we begin another new day, let’s remember to follow this warning from the Apostle Paul and live wisely. That includes rejecting the foolish ideas with which our society continually bombards us. We cannot, we must not, allow our evil culture to try to define what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Anytime someone outside the household of faith tries to tell us Christians how Christians should think, live, and act, we should immediately and wholeheartedly reject such advice. After all, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us. And, we have God’s blessed written Word. What more do we need to heed the genuine warnings and loving insturctions that God has given us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Chosen in Him

 

“For he (God) chose us in him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

—Ephesians 1:4-5

Do you like to be chosen? I imagine that you do. When you were in Elementary School and the teacher organized your class into two teams to play some game, did you stand there hoping that you would be chosen early in the process rather than become the last person picked? Or maybe, you hoped that you would be chosen to be on the same team as someone you admired. We all like to be chosen.

In our relationship with God, one of the most blessed elements is that He has chosen us before the foundation of the earth to belong to Himself. We cannot fully comprehend this fact because we know that there is nothing inherently worthy about us that would prompt God to choose us. We are stained by the sin nature of Adam and have compounded our natural sinfulness by committing all manner of sins on our own. Why would a holy God choose us?

But, the fact remains that God did choose us. And, in due season, God sent His blessed Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes to the fact that God had chosen us and had made provision for the forgiveness of our sins through the suffering, death, and resurrection of His one and only Son, Jesus.

Notice how the Apostle Paul affirms this truth as he writes to the Christians gathered at Ephesus, found in Ephesians 1:4-5:

For he (God) chose us in him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

This side of eternity, we will never understand why God chose us to belong to Himself. But, as we begin this new day, we can celebrate with worship and praise the reality that we are God’s chosen ones. In fact, God has grafted us into the line of His original chosen people, Israel, that we might become one flourishing blooming branch that testifies to God’s mercy, grace, and unfailing love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Power to Witness

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

—Acts 1:8

The testimony of someone who has experienced a particular event has great power to provide insight, information, and understanding. The best way to encourage someone to consider a thought or idea is to have a person who has benefitted from that thought or idea share how that thought or idea has impacted his or her life.

But, even when something has had a profound influence on their sense of well-being, most people are very reluctant to tell others about what they’ve experienced. This shyness about witnessing to the truth of what has happened in one’s own life comes from a sense that people do not want others to think ill of them.

The antidote to this shyness about witnessing is power given specifically for the purpose of overcoming that shyness. This is what Jesus was explaining to His disciples, as recorded by Dr. Luke in Acts 1:8:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

As we begin another new day, we should spend a moment thinking about the many wonderful ways our relationship with God has impacted our lives. Perhaps we should even make a list of all the things that have made our life better since we responded to God’s call to come and follow Him.

With that list in hand, we should ask God to open up opportunities for us to share how wonderful our life has been since we accepted His gift of mercy, grace, and love. Then, as God brings people across the pathway of our lives, we should gently and tenderly share with them the wonders and amazement that we have experienced from this God who loves us with His unfailing love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Power, Love, and Self-discipline

 

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

—2 Timothy 1:7

Have you ever done a self-assessment to determine the key qualities that make you who you are? I was fortunate that, as a Psychology and Writing double-major at Houghton College in the mid-1960s, I had a most excellent professor who had spent time in the Veterans Administration Hospital System. He insisted that Psychology majors take a wide variety of psychological instruments, participate in group therapy sessions, and learn as much about themselves as possible.

I learned early on that I had low self-esteem coupled with a strong sense of perfectionism. I also learned that my extreme social awkwardness came from the way my low self-esteem and perfectionism had shaped the way I processed the information I receive when I am in a social setting.

I have always admired other people who seem to get along in life much more smoothly than I do. I am also keenly aware that God has gifted me in other areas of life that, in many ways, more than compensate for my social awkwardness.

Now, imagine for a moment that God sets out three qualities that He wants to give to His dearly loved children. You actually don’t need to imagine this, because God does have three wonderful qualities that the Apostle Paul has described, as found in 2 Timothy 1:7:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

A spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of self-discipline are all sterling qualities that God gives to each of His children. They come to us through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They are given to us to enable us to serve God in this present world as His ambassadors to a troubled and needy world.

As this new day begins, let’s praise and thank God for these three great gifts. Then, let’s determine to use them to spread the good news of who God is and what He longs to do for each person who may cross the pathway of our lives. In so doing, we will find these qualities growing within us, just as Paul was urging his son-in-the-faith, Timothy, to experience these qualities growing within him.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Increasing and Overflowing Love

 

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

—1 Thessalonians 3:12

Can a person ever have too much love? I really don’t think so. Most of us are at least a little bit “love deficient.” Even if we have those in our lives who love us, we still can really use the comfort that comes from every bit of love that flows our way.

In just such a setting, the Apostle Paul wrote the following to the new Christians gathered at Thessalonica, as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 3:12:

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

These words of blessing from the Apostle, apply to us today, as well. We are part of the enormous and great family of God. Thus, we are recipients of God’s overflowing love. He has poured His love into us so that we can, in turn, pour His love into others.

As we begin another new day, let’s make this a day when we will endeavor to let God’s love flow through us to touch the minds and hearts of others.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Father of Compassion

 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

—2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Did your father act compassionately toward you? When you were having a difficult time, did your father patiently listen to you and lovingly make some suggestions to help you make the right decision?

Sadly, far too many individuals have to answer “No” to these questions. Their dad was either not around, or was not a compassionate person. Sometimes, dads think they have to be tough and strict without any sign of tenderness. But, that’s not the way the Father of us all behaves toward His dearly loved children.

The Apostle Paul writes these words, found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

God is a compassionate and loving Father. Yes, He expects obedience from His dearly loved children. But, He also treats them with compassion. He understands their trials. He understands how difficult it sometimes seems to manage the day-to-day activities of life. And, He offers loving suggestions through His written Word and through the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit.

As we begin another new day, let’s remember that God determines to act toward us with genuine compassion. He wants to be the One who knows us best and loves us the most. He also wants us to emulate His compassion when we deal with others.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Redemption and Refuge

 

“The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”

—Psalm 34:22

Throughout Psalm 34, Kind David has extolled the virtues of God as protector, helper, guide, and deliverer. He continues that theme with these words, found in Psalm 34:22:

The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

God has chosen those He wishes to belong to Himself as His servants. And, He has redeemed them from the penalty of sin and death. He vouchsafes their redemption. He opens the way for them to take refuge and find protection from the evil that would devour them.

As we begin a new day, we are numbered among those whom God has called to Himself. Therefore, we are redeemed and we are given a place of refuge. We can hide from the evil that would enslave us. We can find a place of safety in a world filled with traps. We can rest in the arms of the God who loved us enough to sacrifice His one and only Son in our behalf. We are of all people most blessed.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Wicked Will Fail

 

“Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.”

—Psalm 34:21

Have you ever encountered someone truly wicked, someone who made your life more difficult, and you thought to yourself, “How does this person get away with what he does?” If you’ve had such an experience, you’re not alone.

Many of us, particularly in work situations, have encountered someone in power who uses that power to demean, harass, control, and make the lives of the persons reporting to that one miserable. Such a person often has extremely low self-esteem.

On rarer occasions, such a person may actually meet the definition psychologists use for a “sociopath.” Most often such a sociopath has no empathy for others, sees the world only as it relates to his or her ego, divides the world into people whom he or she can manipulate (“buddies”) and people whom he or she cannot manipulate (“targets”), and has the ability to skillfully lie about almost everything to get his or her own way.

King David recognized the burden that such people represent to God’s dearly loved children. That prompted David to write these words found in Psalm 34:21:

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The very acts these evil people commit will ultimately slay them. In addition, anyone who opposes God’s righteous children will be condemned by God and by others. So, it’s a very good idea to not wonder if such a one will always get away with what they do. They won’t.

The lesson for those of us who belong to God through Christ is that we must guard our minds and hearts so that we do not emulate the behavior of those who are truly evil. Making people afraid of you is not leadership. Winning people’s hearts works far more effectively than any other management philosophy. As we begin a new day, let’s remember to emulate Jesus. If we set our minds and hearts to doing that, we will not fall prey to the evil around us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Lord, The Deliverer

 

“A righteous man (or woman) may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him (or her) from them all; he protects all his (or her) bones, not one of them will be broken.”

—Psalm 34:19-20

Whenever we get into trouble, we often need someone to help us. That trouble may be something that has occurred as a result of sin in our lives. It can also be the result of something over which we have absolutely no control: such as illness or disease. Nevertheless, when we realize we have fallen down a deep hole, we need someone to help us out.

King David recognized this very fact when he wrote these words found in Psalm 34:19-20:

A righteous man (or woman) may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him (or her) from them all; he protects all his (or her) bones, not one of them will be broken.

This passage is often used as a Messianic prophesy referring to the death of Christ on the cross where, despite their normal procedures, the Roman soldiers did not break any of Jesus’ bones. But, it also stands on its own as yet one more example of how God patiently waits to render aid to His dearly loved children when trouble assails them.

As we begin this new day, let’s celebrate the reality of God’s divine Presence in our lives. He is our protector, He is our helper, He is our loving Father who looks out for us. And, when we see those in need around us, let’s show God’s love by being willing to help those in need.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Saving the Crushed in Spirit

 

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

—Psalm 34:18

I once felt crushed in my spirit. I was only seven years old at the time. I had spent a week on the shore of Lake Erie, near Silver Creek, New York. We had rented a cottage from a friend of my father’s.

In the cottage right next door, the one that actually had frontage on the Lake, lived a mother, a father, and the most beautiful little seven-year-old girl I had ever seen. I was very surprised to learn that this family also lived in my hometown of Bradford, Pennsylvania. While I lived on the north side of the city and attended the Sixth Ward Elementary School, this delightful little girl lived on the west side of the city and attended the Hobson Place Elementary School. Until meeting at the Lake, our paths had never crossed in our relatively small city of 18,000 people.

We had a delightful time at the Lake that week. And, for the first time in my young life, I became utterly fascinated with this magnificent young girl. Her name was Vicki. Even after more than 65 years, I can still remember exactly what she looked like: the sun reflecting off the Lake and illuminating her beautiful pale skin.

I came home from that week at the Lake and felt lost—absolutely lost. For days I moped around the house. My mom tried to assure me that Vicki was just one of many delightful young ladies I would meet in the course of my life. But, that didn’t relieve the sense of loss that I felt. I was truly crushed in my spirit.

As I write these words, I can’t help but chuckle at my own foolishness. The setting that summer at the Lake was a truly unique experience. In no other setting would I ever have had the opportunity to get to know this little girl. She and I came from totally different worlds. I later learned that her family was well off, had a country club membership, while I came from a relatively poor family. She spent her time in various activities that included riding horses, water skiing, and learning to play golf. I spent my leisure time at church and working at the radio station.

I never had the opportunity to connect with her again. By the time I reached Junior High School, where all the Elementary Schools funneled into a single building, her family had moved. Then, they moved back for a short time and, all too soon, moved again. But, by that time she had transformed into someone that seemed quite unlike that delightful little girl I had met many years ago. I am more than certain that she has no memory of me whatsoever.

When it comes to feeling crushed in one’s spirit, many of you could tell a much more realistic tale of some very serious event in your life that caused a deep hurt in your very soul. My illustration seems quite trivial in comparison. It sticks in my mind only because it was the first time I had experienced such feelings. Of course, in the many years since those long-ago days, I have had some genuine tragedies that have plunged me into an ever-deeper sense of spirit-crunching despair.

King David shares these comforting words from Psalm 34:18:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

When we experience a genuine time of hurt and disappointment in our lives, God stands ready to reach down with His arms of love and give us a holy hug. He knows what it is to experience loss. After all, He gave up His one and only Son, Jesus, to become the One who paid the penalty for our sins. As Jesus took on the sins of all humankind, in His holiness and for a brief moment in time, God had to turn His back on His only Son.

Fortunately, that’s not the end of the story. But, as we begin this new day, whenever we wonder if anyone can relate to what we may be experiencing in our lives, we can rest assured that God can. He understands. He will comfort us and heal our broken hearts.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Hears Us

 

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

—Psalm 34:17

If you fall down a deep hole and yell for help, help will not come if no one can hear you. That seems self-evident. You may cry out over and over again. If no one can hear you call, then help won’t come.

But, if you cry out for help and someone is specifically listening for that cry, aid will come to you quickly. That’s the concept that King David wanted to convey, when he wrote the words found in Psalm 34:17:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

God is always listening for our cry for help. Therefore, as we begin another new day, we can launch out into the world knowing that God is always listening for our cries that indicate we need help. We don’t ever have to face a time when no one is listening. God is ever-present and always attuned to the sound of our voices.

In like manner, as followers of Jesus, we can keep our own ears tuned to hear the genuine cries for help that may come from those who have very real needs. When we hear those cries, we can answer them on behalf of the God who loves us and desires us to show His love to others.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

An Angry Face

 

“The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”

—Psalm 34:16

Has anyone ever given you an angry look? Maybe it was one of your parents when you persisted in doing something that they had told you not to do. Perhaps it was a teacher who had made it clear there were rules to follow but you decided to do what you wanted to do. It might even have been your boss at work who could let you know that what you were saying in a meeting was not acceptable.

I had some friends growing up who spoke about their dad having what they called “The Look.” Their dad was a quiet man and never said very many words. But, whenever one of his sons did something wrong, he could instantly shame them by giving them “The Look.”

This is exactly what King David has in mind when he writes about God in Psalm 34:16:

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

God has “The Look” and it communicates all too well whenever someone does something that displeases Him. I know that it is not fashionable today to speak of God as someone who might get angry. But, Scripture makes it clear that a holy God cannot tolerate sin. That’s why He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to become a human and die on the cruel cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for the sins of all humankind.

God wants the children that He chooses to belong to Himself to be obedient to His will and to His written Word. So, as we begin another new day, let’s determine to do just that—let’s become obedient children as a sign of our love and appreciation for the God who first loved us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

His Eyes Are On Us!

 

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.”

—Psalm 34:15

I always enjoy seeing the sign that reads: “Warning! Neighborhood Watch!” It reminds me that the people living in that particular neighborhood feel a responsibility to themselves and each other to remain vigilant. They keep watch on what is going on in their surroundings. There is less chance of crime occurring whenever the people stay alert.

Not long ago, a Neighborhood Watch person reported to police that a moving van had pulled up to a house across the street. The neighbor knew that the people had experienced a death in the family and had traveled out of state for a funeral.

When the police arrived they found criminals attempting to steal all of those people’s possessions. You see, the crooks had watched the obituaries to find someone that had died out of state. Then, they targeted the loved ones who had gone to attend the far away funeral. Thanks to Neighborhood Watch, the criminals were arrested and their plot was foiled.

King David praises God for His ever-vigilant watchfulness in Psalm 34:15:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.

As we begin a new day, let’s remain thankful that God watches over us. His eyes never leave us. His ears listen for our cries for help. We can move confidently into this day knowing that the God who loves us with His everlasting love keeps us always in view. He remains attentive to our cries for help. He listens for our expressions to Him of our love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Pursue Peace

 

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

—Psalm 34:14

Peace—the word refers to the “absence of conflict.” On the world scene, that’s in terms of nations. Within an individual, it’s an “undisturbed state of mind.”

Peace—even the word sounds good, doesn’t it?

Notice the occurrence of the word “peace” in today’s passage of Scripture found in Psalm 34:14:

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

When we point our web browsers to Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram, or SnapChat, or any of a number of social media websites, we must not focus on posts or photos that are cruel, or demeaning, or provocative, or salacious, or nasty. Instead, we should read posts that encourage, or uplift, or make us feel at peace.

It is so easy, especially in this time of supercharged political strife and disagreement, to be drawn into posts that tear down the people who think differently than we do. Yes, there are some issues about which we may have strong feelings. But, should our political or social feelings overwhelm the love that Christ has placed in our heartss?

“Peace belongs to those whose minds have been channeled properly.” That’s my key suggestion for today. Here’s where the battleground is—in our minds. And, to paraphrase an old-time comic strip character, “Li’l Abner”:

“… personal peace is a whole lot better than internal conflict or war, because believe me, it’s just a whole lot nicer.”

Peace of mind—the world for the most part has not listened to the Prince of Peace. Neighbor has not done for neighbor what he would like done for himself. Too often, even believers have fancied that the peace of Christ could be mixed with the turmoil and confusion and hostilities of Satan the deceiver. But, that’s not so. One can’t allow his or her mind to be channeled improperly without courting problems.

As a new day begins, let’s guard our minds, think on only those things that are worthy, and determine to seek peace and pursue it. We do well when we decide to do just that.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Keeping Our Tongues from Evil

 

“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”

—Psalm 34:12-13

It is relatively easy to do what my friends from the United Kingdom call “keeping a sharp tongue.” At least it is for me—and I suspect it is for you, too. In these days of unbelievable strife in our nation, we are a people deeply divided by a false narrative of politics, a false narrative of racial division, a false narrative of religious division, and a false narrative of income inequality.

Even in describing these points of division as “false narratives” I will be deeply offending some individuals who truly believe these matters divide us. I choose to sincerely believe these are all false narratives constructed by our enemy, Satan, to cause strife among us. Nevertheless, my point remains, it is very easy to keep a sharp tongue.

On the other hand, King David lived at a time when deep division had afflicted the people of Israel, as well. He also realized that these divisions were largely created by false narratives. And, David pushes back against these narratives by writing these words found in Psalm 34:12-13:

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

How many times in the last days have you read something on Facebook, Twitter, or some other social media, or taken note of an article in a blog post or on-line newspaper or magazine, and immediately repeated what the article said without making any effort whatsoever to check out the so-called facts from first sources? I have watched entire churches divide over false narratives created by individuals who wanted to punish someone for a real or imagined hurt. A lie here, a stretching of the truth there, a bit of distorted information said enough times and soon strife arises.

As we begin a new day, let’s determine to speak only verifiable truth. Let’s be very slow to jump on any bandwagon these days. Instead, let’s look to God’s written Word as our source of truth. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to help keep our minds and hearts pure and free from falsehoods. Let’s be very careful what we repeat on social medial. If we do this, God will be pleased to honor our embracing of the truth.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Come and Learn

 

“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

—Psalm 34:11

At some time in our lives, most of us find ourselves eager to learn. Perhaps it was the first time mom or dad allowed you to use your Learner’s Permit to take the car out for a drive under their close supervision. Maybe it was when mom allowed you to bake your first cake all by yourself. Perhaps it was the first time that dad allowed you to use his power tools.

I became fascinated with radio broadcasting as a ten-year-old in fifth grade. I had been given a small radio of my own. I spent many hours tuning across the dial in the evening trying to pick up some distant powerful station. Then, I discovered the Dewey Decimal System’s section in the library labeled 621.384. This section covered radio broadcasting. I checked out every book and read each one voraciously. I was very eager to learn all I could about radio broadcasting.

King David developed a similar zeal to learn all he could about God. David wanted to know as much as he possibly could about this One who had chosen him to rule as King over Israel. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:11:

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

As with previous uses of the word “fear” in this Psalm, David means “supreme reverence.” So, David is inviting the children to come and learn about the supreme reverence that is due to the God who loves them.

As we begin another new day, we do well to gather around a trusted teacher and learn all we can about the God who has chosen us to belong to Himself. We can spend time studying God’s written Word, the Bible, wherein we will find out what He has revealed to us about Himself. We can learn about the supreme reverence that is due our wonderful God. And, we can learn more and more about the depth of His love for us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}