Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.02 “This Is The Day”, Every Day!!!

 

We often quote the Psalmist, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” I’d like us to consider that this isn’t a one-day thing! This is a principle of living a victorious Christian life, a victorious life of one who follows Jesus, because we truly do serve the creator of the universe, The Lord God Almighty, Jesus His Son, and The Holy Spirit, so let’s consider the truth of living “This Day” ‘for’, ‘with’, ‘by’ and ‘through’ the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s not a ‘special day’ thing, (Although it is a special way to live!) but an ‘every day’ thing! Living for God 24-7-365, reflecting His glory and character in all we do—so that others will see Jesus in us, and be drawn to Him! It’s what we’re called to do, so let’s take some time to assess our lives before God and seek HIS face in order to live 2017 in a “This Day” way. May we join with the Psalmist in his call in Psalm 118?

“I will praise thee:

for thou hast heard me,

and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused

is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the Lord’s doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the Lord hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.

25 Save now,

I beseech thee,

O Lord:

O Lord, I beseech thee,

send now prosperity.

26 Blessed be he that cometh

in the name of the Lord:

we have blessed you

out of the house of the Lord.

27 God is the Lord,

which hath shewed us light:

bind the sacrifice with cords,

even unto the horns of the altar.

28 Thou art my God,

and I will praise thee:

thou art my God,

I will exalt thee.

29 O give thanks unto the Lord;

for he is good:

for his mercy endureth for ever.”    Psalm 118:21-29

We can have “This Day” life because of that “stone which the builders refused”–Jesus Christ; and it is “the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes”, so we can “rejoice and be glad in it.” All because of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Have you trusted Him? If you know Him and have trusted your life to Him at the cross, you can “rejoice” in Jesus regardless of your circumstances. He is the Lord of All; HE is trustworthy, and I am so glad I trust Him now!!! I may fail Him every day, but He never fails me!

So what are we to do? I believe we are called to yield ourselves to the work and leadership of the Holy Spirit, who will direct our steps through The Word of God!! Dig in!

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

Knowing The Word enables it to work within our hearts. The Word is the standard of God, and if we don’t know it, we won’t always discern the directions of His Spirit leading us, and we can be easily deceived!

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

God wants to order our steps. Will you resolve to follow Him more closely on a consistent basis? May we strive for it today? It’s a matter of the heart, and Jesus makes it very clear that what comes out of the mouth will reveal what is truly in a persons heart. I’m not talking about a slip of the tongue occasionally, but I am talking about a mouth that reveals a heart full of anger, wrath and bitterness instead of the love of God (See Romans 5:1-5). Like my mother used to say, “You can fool all of the people some of the time. You can fool some of the people all of the time. And you can fool yourself, but you CAN’T FOOL GOD”! God knows our heart and it will come out sooner or later.

“Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O Lord, my strength,

and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Do we want to be pleasing and acceptable in God’s sight, or man’s? The choice is yours and mine. Are we willing to yield ourselves to God and commit to setting priorities based on what will bring godliness, or what will bring worldly success? Only you and I can answer that question. May we answer in light of what Jesus said about our words!

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye,

being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word

that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words

thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words

thou shalt be condemned.”     Matthew 12:34-37

Jesus isn’t talking about “good works” that save us, but the regenerate heart that reveals a relationship of God and man. Not the religion of what “good” I can do, but a relationship with God because of what Jesus did at Calvary. A “good man” is only good by the saving power of Jesus Christ—the blood of the Lamb that saves us from our sin.

“Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver

and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith

and hope

might be in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls

in obeying the truth

through the Spirit

unto unfeigned love of the brethren,

see that ye love one another

with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again,

not of corruptible seed,

but of incorruptible,

by the word of God,

which liveth

and abideth for ever.”     1 Peter 1:18-23

Being “born again” through the blood of the victorious Lamb, Lord, Savior and King—Jesus!!! And when Jesus saves us, He transforms our hearts and lives, to be lived out before a lost and dying world, and our mouth will ultimately reveal a changed heart or an unregenerate one?

“And Jesus said,

Are ye also yet without understanding?

17 Do not ye yet understand,

that whatsoever entereth in

at the mouth

goeth into the belly,

and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things which proceed

out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:16-20

Will I hear “Well done thou good and faithful servant” or “depart from me, I never knew you”? Please check your heart—it is the mirror of the soul, and your mouth will verify or deny what you claim to possess—Jesus in truth and life, or imitation that cannot save!

“Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord,

Lord,

have we not prophesied

in thy name?

and in thy name

have cast out devils?

and in thy name

done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:15-23

My simple question for you is, “Are you a real sheep, or a wolf dressed up in a sheep skin?” What do your speech and actions reveal? What will Jesus say to you? May we make this year a time of opening our hearts to God’s searchlight of examination, looking in that mirror of The Word, and with the help of the Holy Spirit make the adjustments that need to be made in our lives to be found pleasing to our Master? Or if you don’t yet know Him, may it be a time of coming to Jesus for salvation and life. (See John 3:1-19 and 1:11-13)

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139-23-24

And as James so succinctly reminds us—‘saying so doesn’t make it so’—or as the old adage says, “Your actions are speaking so loudly, that I can’t hear your words!”   How about you? How about me?

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you

seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:22-26

Will you live “This Day”, or are you still putting it off till “some day”? The choice is yours—but choose wisely, the consequences are eternal. “This is the day”! Amen!!! I pray that “This is the day” for you to draw near to God!

“Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.”   James 4:8

Today!!! Every day!!! Amen!