Psalm 86:11 -17
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”
Our Church body has been led in a study on the book of James, the writer is the Holy Spirit and the person He used to pen it is the half-brother of Jesus. It’s been an excellent study, for James is challenging us to put our faith into action. Have you been guilty of just volunteering to teach or lead out because you believe it was the right thing to do, but not by faith in God but in self? Jan and I have, and it was one tough year, my prayer is we get direction and permission before ever doing that again.
God tells us often in the Scriptures that He looks at the heart and not our acts of what we believe are a good thing. It is the attitude of the heart, not the action of our hands that please our Father. Verse eleven is I think the true desire of the heart for any believer, and a prayer I’m praying for my two grandsons, and myself. “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” Often, I find my ways are far from Jesus in attitude and actions. My fear derives not from people who live around me; no, it comes from evil men and women in the Congress and Senate of our Government. People who have no fear of the Lord’s will; not having wisdom or knowledge. You will find that in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Pray for me that my ways will be pleasing to the Lord, and my life will be centered on God’s truth, and His hand will guide my actions. My heart desires to learn my Lord’s way and to walk in integrity before God and man.
We did not touch on God’s love for me, but my life has often been a life of rebellion, wanting the Father’s blessing but on my terms. And even in my defiance that brought about His discipline, He has desired to restore fellowship with this son. What love He has shown to me, for what son does the Father not discipline the son He loves. My life on planet earth is a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes, but not into the grave forever. No, we have a promise from God and it comes with two choices, to accept with all our hearts and minds the love of the Father who sent His Son to pay for your sins and mine, or to reject Jesus and by doing make a decision to spend eternity in total darkness and pain. The life on planet earth is just a vapor, it has a time limit, but the life you choose for eternity never ends. My prayer is you ponder on Psalm 86:11 and make the right choice.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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