Daily Meditations (Page 3)
EL SHADDAI, GOD ALMIGHTY
Have you ever been in a situation, a difficult spot, a hard place in your life when you thought that there was no way out, no answer to your problem, no deliverance from your dilemma? I’m sure that Abram felt somewhat like that when God promised to make him a father of many nations at the age of 75. As Abram waited on God to fulfill His promise he wasn’t getting any younger nor was his wife Sarai. Tick, tick, tick, tick…..so the time went. Abram eventually took the matter into his own hands and out of God’s. However, Ishmael was not the son of promise. At the ripe old age of 99, God reveals Himself to Abram as El Shaddai, God Almighty in Genesis 17:1 reaffirming the promise to make Abram the father of many nations and God did fulfill that promise with the birth of Isaac. WOW! Going back to our text, “Is there anything too hard for Almighty God?” Emphatically, unequivocally no!
UPHOLDING ONE ANOTHER THROUGH PRAYER
The Scripture has much to say about praying for one another. Prayer is the absolute best thing we can do, not just because it’s commanded but because it can accomplish much (James 5:16). Prayer for Peter set him free from prison (Acts 12:5). Just as Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ hands during battle gave Israel victory (Exodus 17:12), sometimes we need to help support those around us in need (Galatians 6:2).
HEALING FOR THE BROKENHEARTED
All one has to do is pay attention to those around you and you’ll fine that so many people are hurting! Have you ever felt like Satan, as a roaring lion, took you back in the woods and just shredded you to pieces? The devil is certainly on the warpath! Perhaps he knows what we all suspect….the return of Jesus will be sooner than later. Until His return, we can trust that He will heal our broken hearts and bind up our wounds. Our God is great! Our God has great power! And our God understands us with infinite understanding even though many haven’t the foggiest idea of what we may be going through or the brokenness we’re experiencing. God does! Trust Him, He loves you.
BARNABAS, THE ENCOURAGER
Barnabas, known as “son of consolation” or “son of encouragement” was at the side of Saul as he went to Jerusalem. Because of what the disciples had heard of Saul and not believing that he had been converted, they were afraid of him but Barnabas was there to reassure that Saul (Paul) indeed had seen the Lord on the Damascus road and had been called by the Lord to do His work. There are times I’m sure that we could’ve used a friend like Barnabas, one who would stand by us when others doubted our integrity and questioned our motives. Barnabas, the encourager! How about you? Are you an encourager? Can you think of someone right now that may feel deserted and alone? Step out of your comfort zone and be a Barnabas!
FLEE FROM THE FOOLISH MAN
I have this verse underlined in my Bible. It has been a lifeline to me over the years as I interact with others and soon discover that the one I’ve been conversing with is for a lack of better words full of baloney! Leave! Never argue with a fool! He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. Too many of God’s children have been influenced by the “foolish man”. This man is a simpleton or arrogant and thinks he knows much but in reality he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know!
HEAVENLY EYESIGHT
How’s your vision? 20/20? Well, it could be better! How about 50/20? Seeing life’s events through a Heavenly lens, just as Joseph did.
PRUDENT, NOT SIMPLE
The Hebrew word for “simple” doesn’t refer to a person with an intellectual deficit but one who is easily persuaded, gullible, naive, while a prudent man is one who is cautious or sensible. It behooves every person who claims the name of Christ to be prudent in this day and age where we are bombarded with every kind of falsity through a myriad of means. We must maintain a testimony for the unsaved to see that as Christians, we are not undiscerning when it comes to the issues we face in life. The current state of affairs has the world looking at Christians as mostly uneducated back woods snake handlers (read the news) who have a disdain for science. Let them see us as those who embrace science because we know the One who set the stars in place!
ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE WORD
As I finished this section of Psalm 119, I paused to think of my own attitude. I realized that I don’t esteem God’s Word nearly as highly as I ought. God’s word is something that He magnifies (Psalm 138:2). It has been settled forever (Psalm 119:89). It is a sword, a weapon for both offense and defense, that can get right to the root of the matter (Hebrews 4:12).
FIRST PLACE SINNER
We live in a world that loves competition. When you run a race in track you run to get first place beating all others. If you are in sales you want to be the leader of your company with the most sales. The thing with competition is that there are winners and losers. I believe one of the reasons that Paul was used by God in such a mighty way was not because he desired to have the most followers, but because he viewed himself to be in first place of all sinners.
PROFIT IN LABOR
We’re living in extreme times. The pandemic, social unrest, crazy weather and eroding morals, ad nauseum! As a business owner, I have a lot of contact with other business owners and amongst the deafening cacophony that I hear across the four states that we service is difficulty in finding anyone that wants to work. I know, I know……not everyone that is out of work wants to stay out but the feedback I’m getting from business owners and managers is it’s nearly impossible to find help although there are many jobs available. I just want to emphasize what God says in our text, “In all labor there is profit….” God honors labor and it’s a honor to work and provide for our families. Work is indeed honorable and if one is physically able to be gainfully employed then one ought to be!