Does God see you as righteous?

Psalm 37:23-34

As I read this morning, these selected verses spoke into my life, let me share a few with my thoughts.  Verses 23-24, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”  Have you considered what it means to delight in God?  Let us examine what it means to delight in God, do you find joy and satisfaction in your life because you are in step with His will?  Do you have a deep appreciation for God’s character, His attributes, and His many blessings?  Over many years of desiring to be a follower of Christ or a Micah 6:8 man, I believe the Lord has refined my mind and will to want His will, and I do delight in Him.  I am not saying in any way I’ve arrived, but my heart's desire is to finish strong.  Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Wow, verses 25-31, also give us guidelines to not lean on our understanding, for the thoughts and ways of God often make no sense to mankind.  It helps me to always go back to what I make in my shop, the wood may not like my design, and if it could talk to me it might say so, but wood cannot speak and I’m in charge.  That’s my relationship with the Father, I’m the created, and He is the Creator, and unlike my handling of the wood, His design is always best.  Verses 25-26, I witness, and it has been true in my life.  “I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.”  (Note: It only disgraces the Father, when churches and people who claim to be followers of Christ, go begging to a non-believer for funds to do what they believe is God’s work.)

And let’s end today with verse 34, “Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.”  Most of us are uncomfortable about waiting; we need it now or sooner, but that is not the way of God, we learn much from waiting.  Many of us have garages with stuff to good to give or throw away, and some rent storage rooms to keep all their stuff in that is no longer used and may never have been needed.  Why, because they could not wait for God to provide it or for the funds.  Many have become enslaved to credit card debt, and live lives in fear of losing it all. 

So ponder on this; are you delighting in God, are you waiting for him, are you walking in righteousness?  I’m not asking if you’re a good person in your opinion, no the question is; does God see you as righteous? 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The wicked will not finish well

Psalm 37:10-22

I sure hope you are reading these verses; it does not sound like the wicked will finish well.  In verse ten, we have this “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more.”  Verse 12, “The wicked plots against the righteous” and verse 13, gives this insight; “but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.” 

You may find it of interest that the wicked in verses 14-15, tell us the following; “The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.”

But there is also a message to the person who desires to please God and live in right standing with God.  Guard your heart against being envious of wrongdoers, they seem to get by with and even flourish, but stop and give thought to verses 16-19. “Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.  The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine, they have abundance.”

As I pen this paper, my thoughts went to how can a person make sure they are not wicked in God’s economy.  I've grown very fond of the Puritan Prayers found in the “Valley of Vision,” and I’m taking this quote from page 284 titled “Privileges.”  “From Calvary’s cross wave upon wave of grace reaches me, deal with my sin, washes me clean, renew my heart, strengthens my will, draws out my affection, kindles a flame in my soul, rules throughout my inner man, consecrates my every thought, word, work, teaches me thy immeasurable love.  How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus!”

For 26 years of my life, I was a religious Baptist but did not walk in the grace that comes from the cross. Till one night in a hotel room knowing that I was living life outside of Christ’s authority, I picked up a hotel Bible and read in the book of Romans 10:9-10, the following; and became a new person in Christ.  By the faith that God gave me, I bowed my knee to His authority and entered into His grace.  I am now a son of the Father, and Jesus calls me friend, many times I’ve allowed sin to break that fellowship, but it did not break my newfound relationship with the Father, the Son, and His Holy Spirit.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Do not Fret

Psalm 37:1-9

“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.  Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will do this:  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.  For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”

Do not fret because of those who are evil, but we do, and it is not because we are envious of those who do wrong.  No, it is often we are sick of seeing the very rich, the Hollywood crowd, and the Congress of the United States not being held to the same requirements as others.  Over many years our school systems have not taught American history and the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States of America.  We have raised up a generation of people who have no understanding of why we are a free people with these rights that give us free speech, the right to travel, to worship and to excel, by the gifts God has given us.  Do not be deceived; many in our Congress would like to take each of those rights from you and are working to do so.

That is why Psalm 37 is so essential for every follower of Christ to ponder on, for we are told fretting only leads to evil.  So what should one do, recall verse two, they will soon fade like the grass.  Verses 3-9, are great counsel; Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will do this:  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.  For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Fountain of Life

April 12, 2019

Psalm 36: 5-12

As you begin reading verse five, I hope you experience joy and peace that fills my pea picking heart this morning.  Ponder on these verses; “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord.  How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.  They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.  Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!”

As I was reading Psalm 139:7-12, and I will share verse 7, as David asks this question of the LORD.  “Where shall I go from your spirit?  Or where shall I flee from your presence?”   In the verses that follow David answers his questions.  Is it not wonderful that God has no limits?   The Scriptures tell us that it rains on both the just and the unjust, and the same is true when it comes to taking refuge under the dominant hand of our God.  Both good and evil feast on the abundance of what God gives a nation, but only those who are drawn by the Holy Spirit and by the truth found in the Bible will humble themselves before a Holy God and confess their need of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3:16, makes it very clear that Jesus did not go to the cross and take the sins of a select group, or color, but for all mankind, that is the offer, and that is your choice.  Verse 9, “ For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”  Wow, reread it, life is more than being born once, it’s the second birth that brings you joy and peace in the middle of a fallen world that is opposed to all that is good and holy.  Do you recall the Pharisee named Nicodemus, and his comment to Jesus?  You will find the account in John 3:1-15, and Jesus told him something all people need to hear.  “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

No matter what religion Mom and Dad are, no matter how often you go to church and do good deeds for others, God tells us apart from Jesus, your acts are like filthy rags in His sight.  But today, your reading this and today you have enough information to choose to bow a knee to Jesus Christ and confess that you have been trying to live life under your control.

As we close, being a follower of Christ does not make us perfect, I also have often prayed verse 11, “Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.”  It is later than you think today is your day of Salvation.  Make the right choice!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Vapor Life & The Eternal Life

Psalm 36:1-4

“Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.  For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.  He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.”

Many a person began with good intentions only to fall prey to the enemy’s deception.  We see this in the Congress of our nation, people sell out for power or wealth, many a person has gotten elected poorer than church mice and ended up millionaires, and that is not possible without being on the take.  Many go to Congress with wealth and use it to get more; they love money and power more than their country. 

But what about those who go by the name Christian, when they sell out for power or wealth, to get a promotion, and it is always useful to revisit 2 Corinthians 13:5, and do a self examination, often I’ve found in my own life maybe not the act but the desire.   

It is always good to remember that without equal justice for all citizens, we will end up like many third world countries, or under the control of a dictator.  It is also essential to recall that God is no respecter of persons, and all will stand at the Judgment, the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich, at His judgment seat. 

Here are his words on this matter; you will find this statement of Jesus in Mark 8:36-37, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?”  Many will gain some of the world goods, with no regard for the prize that awaits the ones that follow after Jesus, but those who follow Jesus are looking to something of more excellent value than the world has to offer.  They have entered into a peace that is not of this world, a love for others, an understanding that all who follow Christ will have joy and peace in the middle of conflicts.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Are there Condition on being a Friend of Jesus?

Psalm 35:11-28

In two days I will enjoy being a year older on planet earth.  Each year I wonder what my scorecard looks like with my family and a few friends I would call at three in the morning to help me.  Do they see a consistent man in what God has instructed all who follow Jesus, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with my God? 

In John 15:14-15, we see these words of Jesus; “You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  To be called by Jesus a friend, and to be let into His circle of friends, is very special.  Often, just knowing that Jesus is always there in my many challenges of being a parent, in business, and just living life, is of great comfort.  But so often in my walk, in the good times, I get too busy for my friends, and as I read verses 11 through 16, I wonder if that is the way Jesus felt when the multitude turned on Him at the cross.  I wonder if it breaks His heart when I allow the urgent things of this life to replace spending time with Him.

Psalm 35:13-16, “But I, when they were sick—I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.  I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.  But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.”  Now as we look at 17-18, you must understand that was David’s prayer, but that was not our LORD’s, do you recall what Jesus prayed?  In the gospel of Luke 23:34, “Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

It was also a reminder of those who have more love for animals than babies.  In verses 11-12 and 19-21, these words remind me of the battle of good and evil that had been going on from the fall of man in the garden.  But it is a real struggle and the one behind it is the one Jesus called the thief in John 10:10.

This past Sunday, I was reminded by Pastor Rusty Rice, what you and I should be doing.  King Jehoshaphat, when a mighty army was coming to destroy his people, prayed this prayer, “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them?  For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Paryer is our only Weapon

Psalm 35:1-10

“Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.  Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me.  Say to me, “I am your salvation.”  May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.  May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away; may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.  Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, may ruin overtake them by surprise—may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.  Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.  My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord?  You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

Each of us who go by the name Christian or I prefer “a follower of Christ” must always remember, our place is not in God’s role, for His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.  But I’m told that many Christian leaders feel it is inappropriate to ask God to curse your enemies, and yet the Bible testifies David wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  If you visit 2 Samuel 23:1-2, or Acts 1:16, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”

“Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.” In that God does not change as humans often do, and especially political parties.  I believe that my identity has to be in Jesus Christ, and as a wise man often said, do not trust any man, which includes political parties.  So as a follower of Christ, I’m asking the Holy Spirit to take this prayer of David and contend with those who fight me about my rights as given under the Constitution of the United States, and I believe God who set me free from the control of fear and hate.  The following activities are designed to take away your freedom; they are not from outside the U.S.A. but from within Congress. 

These fall under that prayer; the “Do no harm act” “Prominent Senate Democrats introduced a bill Tuesday that would amend the 25-year-old Religious Freedom Restoration Act to prevent the law from being used to justify discrimination against people, including gay, lesbian and transgender citizens.” (By Julie Zauzmer)  We assured that this act would not pass, but it exposes those who desire to take away your right to act on your religious conviction. H.T. Res 7 to amend the U.S. Constitution and abolish the Electoral College. If you did not live in one of the states with a large population, you would have no voice in your next President, or Vice President will be.  And let me also put in H. Res 109, the Government to create a Green New Deal.  It is so bad, and extremists are behind it, but if even put into action, we no longer live in a land of freedom.

So I, like David am asking God to fight for my children and Grandsons and yours, and this has become my prayer.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice