Listen more than you Speak

April 5, 2018

Psalm 34:12-22

“What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.  Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.  The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

As I read verse 13-14, thoughts of my dad came to me, for he lived by this truth, and often told us and others, if you cannot say something good about the person say nothing at all.  My dad played football for two years in college, and back then, the good player played both offense and defense, and I’m not sure why he never finished college.  But this I witnessed, both of his knees would swell up, and he would wrap them in ace bandages and walk to work.  Dad worked in a plant as a boiler operator and thirty-one year’s later died in that plant of a massive heart attack.  He never complained, and yet it was clear that he believed that was the only way he could support his family.  My mother was often sick when we were young, and dad had three children and worked shifts.  If he was not working at that job or selling uniforms to anyone that would buy one, he was at the Miller High School practice field watching and visiting with the coaches and players. 

He would have been a great coach in that football was one of his passions, and he was a good teacher.  My dad loved people and served the Lord as a teacher and servant, and I’m sure of this, his children never understood or honored dad as we should have.  I am so sorry that the first time I told him I loved him was two weeks before he died, but today he is on my list of heroes.

The more thought I give to this Psalm the more my thoughts go to my dad, he never had much in material goods, in fact, I was shocked when I was told what his yearly income was after working for 31 years at the same place.  But he was rich in doing for others; my pastor often says to his staff, 90% of ministry is just showing up in times of need; my dad showed up.

With that said in honor of my dad, my thoughts go to the foundation; he built his life on a firm foundation, Jesus Christ.  As a child and a teenager, we feared him and mother more than we loved them, and both at that time had trouble showing affection.  But, all three kids, each very different, came away with the foundation dad and mothers life was built on, honest, hard work, and caring for others, doing good and standing against evil.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Jesus said - If you Love Me

Psalm 34:1-11

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.   My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.  Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.  Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

Many translations have this to say about this Psalm, “Of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  As we work down to verses eight, nine, and eleven, we see the word fear associated with the phrase “fear God.”   In verse four, David is talking about his fears, and I learned fear at a young age and began to have many fears as I grew up.  After asking Christ into my life, fear still ruled my life, and as I learned more about the Character of God, I also learned He taught all of us not to fear man and not to trust in self.  I’ve learned and sometimes relearned that God is faithful in all His ways, and He forgives slow learners.  I’ve also learned that He is not my buddy, He is God, and I’m not on par with Him, His ways and thoughts are so much higher than my weak little mind.

But what about those verses I referred to above, on the fear of God, do you fear God?  What do you mean by that, I ask that question of my Pastor Ray Still, and this was his reply.  “To me, it is to revere and respect Him as God.  Remember, my place is not in His role.”  I love and respect my Pastor, and seek his counsel, but I also know God requires me to search His word for answers to my questions.  As I was preparing to send this paper, I always read it one more, and I got this insight.  I loved and respect my dad, but I also had a healthy fear of breaking his rules, for when I did it always brought discipline.   So the following are words from the Scriptures, and first is Deuteronomy 10:12-13.  “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?  We have these words from Jesus, in John 14:15,  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  When my wife asks me to do something for her, and I say sure, but do not do it, that is not showing love.  Often, I treat Jesus in the same way, and my take away from this is my words of love are empty.

The great Prophet Isaiah voiced the following in Isaiah 8:13, “But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear and let him be your dread.”  Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”  Those are the words of the smartest man born of earthly parents.  I hope this has been fruitful but let's allow the apostle Peter to conclude this thought to all who follow Jesus.  In 1 Peter 2:17, “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”  And 2 Peter 2:17, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God, Honor the emperor.”  Note: (in our case that would mean President of the USA.)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

God considers everything we do!

Psalm 33: 13-22

“From heaven, the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.”

I like to think of myself as wise, not foolish, but this thought came into my mind and its source is Jesus Christ.  It's found in John 14:15-17, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” 

As I ponder on this thought that the Father who sent His only Son to become sin and paid for all my sins, considers everything I do, that is sobering.  What are a few of the things Jesus has commanded me to do, I believe first and if I drop the ball on this I'm not going to be much of a follower of Christ, and love the Lord with all my heart, mind, and personality, or soul.  Then Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourself, and thanks to the Lord for having the Lawyer ask “who is my neighbor,” and Jesus replied; everyone you encounter.  Now let’s not even go to "love your enemy," that may be someone in your family that harmed you or someone at work, but what about those who are in the opposite party, the ones you hold contempt for, that does not even cover those who want to kill you for not believing as they do.  Well, I believe the Spirit that lives in me wants us to go there, for He is not the Spirit of hate and fear, but peace, love, joy, and hope.

If you want to hate a person, hate the one Jesus called the thief, for he came only to kill, steal, and destroy, and is the source of all that is evil in the world.  The apostle Paul made this very clear to us in Ephesians 6:11-13, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

After the examination, what was the result, I came up short, in that I was reminded that Jesus told me, also, as I went to make disciples. And yes, that was not the only area where I came up short.

If you are a follower of Christ, remember God desires us to examine ourselves, you will find that in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

It a good Plan

 Psalm 33:1-12 

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.  Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.  Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.   For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.  By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.   He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.  The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

It is one of those mornings, very early and how I wanted to sleep, but I believe the Lord wanted to have fellowship with me.  So as I opened and read these verses, I once more realized my need to sing joyfully to the Lord, for it is fitting for the follower of Jesus to praise the Father.  I’m not sure what singing a new song means, but this morning I let the thoughts that came into my mind come out in words of praise to my Lord.

 I’m not close to a scholar; no one will ever talk about my intelligence but this I know for I’ve experienced that God’s word is right and true, and He is faithful in all He does.  So I put my trust in Him alone, for I’ve not found that to be true anywhere else.

Can the mighty government of the USA speak and form and make something out of nothing, the Lord can and has, so why would you trust a man who is formed by God out of the dust of the ground?  But that is not all that happens, for that man to have life, God breathed life into him, and he became a living spirit, with a mind, will, and emotions.  My friend Bill Gillham often said, you never make up your mind about anything, but you do choose by your will to listen to information from your mind or emotions and your will is like a light switch, it is yes or no.

Do you fear the Lord, not that He is going to get even with you for your sins, He is not going to do that, for Jesus took on all sin, and God took His full wrath out on Him.  But I do fear the Father in this way; I do revere God and understand His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts higher than mine.  His love and mercy are beyond my understanding, but I’ve experienced them often in my journey on planet earth.

I’m a small-town boy, and God sent me to a place that I did not want to go to make a living for my family.  Let me be clear, Houston, Texas was not on my bucket list, but God, it was His plan.  So in great fear I went and for six months, I worked Monday through Friday in the Houston area with my wife and daughter in Odem, Texas.  Odem is tiny and Houston is enormous, and my life was full of stress-driven by the unknown, and one night I got a call from a dear friend, Joyce Ray with this verse.  Jeremiah 29:11, is the message God sent to me through this godly lady.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 Let us end with this word from the Psalmist;   ^“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

God's Rosebud

I was doing a little house cleaning and ran across this poem, I hope you read it and ponder on what the poet is sharing with us. 

God’s Rosebud

A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day.  Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.

The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry.

But, because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.

It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do.

Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it,

the older preacher began to recite the following poem…

“It is only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God’s design; but I cannot unfold the petals with these clumsy hands of mine.”

“The secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I.  God opens this flower so easily, but in my hands, they die.”

“If I cannot unfold a rosebud, this flower of God’s design, then, how can I have the wisdom to unfold this life of mine?”

“So, I’ll trust in God for leading each moment of my day.  I will look to God for guidance in each step along the way.”

“The path that lies before me, only my Lord and Savior knows.  I’ll trust God to unfold the moments, just as He unfolds the rose.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

"whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness.”

Psalm 32:8-11

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.  Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.  Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.  Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”

Ken Ryan was not only a mentor to me, he became a special friend, but on days he would ask do you believe what we study in the Scripture.  My answer was yes, you know I do, and it was always the same reply; no, you don’t for if you did, you would do what it says to do.  What was my problem, I believed what we read as the word of God, but I’ve come to understand I was not yet teachable.  I had way too much of Bob and not enough of Jesus; I was a believer but was still full of the fleshly desires.  I believe this quote sums up why life at that time; “Be happy in him, O my heart, and in nothing but God, for whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness.”

But the Psalmist is referring to a teachable man, shall we explore these four verses and see what God wants to do for those that believe in Him.  Please ponder on verse eight, our Father has sent the Holy Spirit to instruct and teach each of us in the way we should go, and if we listen and obey we will seek His counsel.  Now God is not going to make you trust in Him, He will not put a bit in your mouth, but when you have a teachable spirit, He is going to guide you in righteousness.

So be quick to look to Jesus, seek Him, and do not do as I and many others who are still trying to walk in both the world, (getting our needs met outside of Christ) and the Spirit, you must come to put no confidence in your flesh.  One must remember that Channel One is from the pit of hell, it's the deceptive channel.  It tells you lies in your voice like; you deserve, and you're entitled, that a lie.  But Channel Two is a much softer voice, it is the Holy Spirit, and He never attacks you by saying your of no value, for you are of great importance to our Lord.  If you have ears to hear, He will correct you and guide you into peace and joy, even in the middle of your trouble.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Unchecked Emotions

Psalm 31:1-5

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness, deliver me!  Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!  For you are my rock and my fortress, and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hand, I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”

God gave us emotions, without them, we would not have passions and sensations, and that is a good thing.  But when they are unchecked, and we allow them to rule over us, we have a roller coaster life, and that’s a hard person to live with or have as a friend.  But as I read Psalm 31, we have an example of what emotions can do in our walk with the Lord.

As we explore the three words used by David to describe God, they are mighty, rock, refuge, and fortress.  God is our Rock, He cannot be moved, and I can put my trust in Him.  A refuge is a place of security that we find in the Word of God and in earnest prayer.  And a Fortress is a place of protection from one's enemies, and last the Net, yes the net, we often get caught up in the net that is set by the enemy, the one Jesus calls a thief in John 10:10.

Now you may be thinking, I’ve never been caught in anyone’s net, but you are so wrong.  The world and the devil have many nets, the desire for what your neighbor has, being proud of what you have, the anger and fear you have against people you do not know.  What about the desire for more, when you have been blessed with so much, yes, never satisfied and never thankful?  Those are only a small sampling of the many nets set to entrap us.

But keep reading Psalm 31:6-24, and though David was allowing his emotions to give him highs and lows, he knew that God was faithful and that often David was not, in fact, unlike many who are blind to their sins, David was not.  In verse 10, he confesses the many problems he has and is having or reaping what he has sown.  David ends verse ten in this manner, “because of my sinfulness.”  In verses 11-13, David shares the effect of what sin has done in his life.  But once more in verses 14-16, he affirms God’s authority and control over both his life and his enemies.  In verses 17-18, David asks the Lord to deal harshly with his enemies.  Now read David’s counsel to all who follow Jesus in the closing two verses: “Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Absolute's and Choices

 Psalm 30:6-12

  

“When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”  Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.  To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord, I cried for mercy: “What is gained if I am silenced if I go down to the pit?  Will the dust praise you?  Will it proclaim your faithfulness?  Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”

 The psalmist points out how the blessing of the Lord makes us feel secure, and that a good thing or is it?  Yes, in Christ Jesus, we are confident that He will never leave us or forsake us.  The danger is in our flesh, believe me on this, and if not consider Galatians 5:16-17.  ^“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

 Let me share an absolute, and I’m aware that the World does not like truth; that is why one of the Presidents asked this question; "It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is.” As a follower of Christ that’s an easy answer, Mr. Clinton, God Is, no matter what spin you try on the meaning, it does not change, God Is, and He always has been.  Now that’s an absolute, and this is another, the world will never teach you to walk by the Spirit.

Another is, we learn how to get our needs met outside of Christ; my friend Bill Gilham called this “green highways.”  When we are walking by the Spirit, those highways must turn into,” raccoon trails,” and one must look to the Spirit of God for guidance. 

 If one looks at the world for its values, it will become proud, arrogant, and full of self, believing they have something to do with their position or material status on the planet earth.  This is what the psalmist is referring to before God hid his face, and that’s the reason for the suffering that was needed for humility.

To break free of this hold the flesh has on you, requires one to confess that once more the green highways of life seemed so natural and one lost sight of the peace and joy they found in looking to the Spirit of God for the experience.  Chose today before getting out of bed, pray, Lord, lead me and give me the understanding; to listen to Your Spirit and obey.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

His favor lasts a Lifetime

Psalm 30:1-5

“I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.  Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.  You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.  Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.  For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Do you hold God’s name in very high regard?  As I write, my first thoughts are, I do, for I would not know love if I had not by faith entered into God’s family through the grace He showed to me.  Jesus makes it very evident in John 10:10, that we have an enemy and Jesus referred to him as a thief, and his desire is to steal, kill, and destroy.   And when Jesus came into my life my enemy had no claim on me, for Jesus won total victory for all who trust in Him over death and the grave.  When David tells us he called to the Lord and was healed, Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.”

The English Standard Version uses the word “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”  Our God has many attributes, love, mercy, justice, goodness, but they all come from His Holiness.  I’ve found often the urgent and the desire of the flesh steal my time to be still and ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.  But in the late hours of the night and the early morning, I am aware of the splendor of His Holiness.

Verse five is a verse many of us have put to memory, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”  God hates sin, my sins and yours, and no matter what spin the world puts on sin, wrong is still wrong, and right is still right.  When we by faith enter into Christ that does not make us sinless, yet we are reclaimed and redeemed.  Each day we choose to sin or not sin, but it is a choice, my prayer for all of us is that we choose to walk in the light and not in darkness.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A study on Leadership

Psalm 29

“Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.   Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His^[a] holiness.  The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.  The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.  He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion,^[b] like a young wild ox.  The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.  The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks^[c and strips the forests bare.  And in his temple, all cry, “Glory!”  The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.  The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

Over many years on planet earth, I have studied leadership; what is required being a leader?  David, in this Psalm, is leading the people of Israel to acknowledge and is referring to them as sons of God.  He also was talking about the angels who have access to God in heaven, and how we must learn to recognize the voice of God, and His holiness.  David understood that God has many attributes and holiness is the foundation of them.

God is a mighty warrior, and David is telling how one can see that power in His voice, there is no area that He is not over and in charge.  All of nature yields to the voice of God, and David gives the example of a deer giving birth.

David is telling the people that peace and contentment are only found in God, and we can listen and acknowledge God’s voice and receive a blessing, or not do so and receive discipline.  Never have I seen this played out more than now in our nation, and one will always reap what they sow.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

“He is a self-made-man”

Psalm 28:3-9

Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity,
who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts.  Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve.  Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.

Blessed be the Lord because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I will praise Him.  The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.  Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, and bear them up forever.”

I’ve heard this term most of my life; “He is a self-made-man” now what does that mean?  How does one do that?  Do they form themselves out of dust and breath life into their bodies?  I'm foolish, but so is anyone who makes such a statement, or anyone who believes such foolishness.  I understand that many who are uninformed and ignorant of the Scriptures may genuinely think that some of the wealthiest people like Bill Gates are a self-made man.  (Note: Only used Mr. Gates as an example) But stop and ponder on these questions: who gave Bill Gates the fantastic mind, the physical abilities, and the skills?  Who gives him the breath and who is it that has numbered his days, before he was born?

When you ponder on those, you understand that Mr. Gates has been given much and yet so have you, and today is a great day to ask Jesus Christ to open your mind and heart to the truth.  The first part is about people who turn from God to follow after the things of this world, in their search for knowledge, they became proud and believed a lie and rejected God and truth.

But in the second part, we find a wise person, not trusting in themselves, but their Creator.  “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I will praise Him.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Bad connection, no Reply

Psalm 28:1-2

 “To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.  Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.”

Bad connection, no answer on the other end, and we assume that God is on vacation, away from His phone, or maybe upset with us for bothering Him with our problems.  But those thoughts do not line up with the Scriptures, looking at Psalm 55:16-17, “But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.  Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.”  King David does not tell us God replies that moment, but one thing he is sure of God heard him and will save him.

Do you recall David’s sin of adultery, and God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David?  God was still hearing David’s prayers during this time of a sinful life, but David was breaking God’s law, and God knew that until he was confronted David would not repent.  But now the rest of that story, sin brings judgment, David fasted and prayed for the son Bathsheba was carrying but David’s act of sin would not allow God to be untrue to His character.

A quote from Billy Graham, “Often, however, God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we think He should because He loves us, and He knows what is best for us. It’s often been said that God answers prayer in one of three ways: “Yes”, “No”, and “Wait”—and it’s true. We see only part of the picture—but God sees the whole. This is why we must seek God’s will when we pray, and not just our own. The Bible says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will … we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).”

Jesus disciples learned these truths from Jesus; “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonian 5:16-18

But did you know Jesus prayed this prayer for you and is interceding for us this moment before the Father?  “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. ²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:20-24)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice