Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 22  My Hope Is In Thee???

 

“Behold,

the eye of the LORD

is upon them

that fear him,

upon them

that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul

from death,

and to keep them

alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD:

he is our help

and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice

in him,

because we have trusted

in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O LORD,

be upon us,

according as we hope in thee.” Psalm 33:18-22

As we think about the trials and troubles of life, we can sometimes be overwhelmed and become discouraged, but I want to lift our hearts to consider The Word of God today.  We need to continually remind ourselves of the faithfulness of God, for Satan comes with a vengeance to tell us that God doesn’t care!  His same old lies to “steal…to kill…and to destroy”—but we can, we must, “stand fast in the evil day”!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd

giveth his life for the sheep.”   John 10:10-11

As Peter also reminds us, our enemy has already been overcome, we can walk in confidence and hope!  Yet we must remember to walk in God’s ways and trust HIS ways for life.  Don’t settle for the lies of the enemy—he will rob your joy and delight in The Lord!  But like the liar he is, Satan will lead you down a path of destruction, trading the real for cheap imitations of life.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.

 8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom

he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory

and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 5:6-11

Oh, how glad I am that my hope and confidence rest in JESUS, not myself!  Yet we have a work to do, a life of obedience wherein we seek the face of God, not the admiration of the world!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

We live in a world continually trying to conform us to its ways, Satan will use any device or scheme to draw our eyes off of Jesus and the ways of God!  We must choose to stand fast and hold on to The One who gave Himself for us.  Paul called the Ephesians to “walk worthy” of The Lord who had given them “new life”!  I’d like to share a rather lengthy passage from this letter to the Ephesians for our perusal.

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about

with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait

to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth

in love,

may grow up

into him in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted

by that which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure

of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying

of itself

in love.

17 This I say therefore,

and testify in the Lord,

that ye henceforth walk

not as other Gentiles walk,

in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened,

being alienated

from the life of God

through the ignorance

that is in them,

because of the blindness

of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling

have given themselves

over unto lasciviousness,

to work all uncleanness

with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him,

and have been taught by him,

as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation

the old man,

which is corrupt

according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man,

which after God

is created in righteousness

and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying,

speak every man truth with his neighbour:

for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry,

and sin not:

let not the sun go down

upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye kind

one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”   Ephesians 4:14-32

I would simply ask you to ponder these things as you go about your week; don’t consider what I think is right or what you think is right, but consider what God says is right—worthy of a child of The King!  Behaving as such—”child-like” in our faith but never  “child-ish” in our actions.  And that is often a difficult thing as we live in a world steeped in selfish, childishness—everyone clamoring to get their own way. Instead may we heed the call of verse 32 and pursue kindness and forgiveness—” even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”!

And if you’ve never experienced the forgiveness of Jesus, you can call on Him today.

“Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks

 unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:”  Colossians 1:11-14

Jesus is ever calling to YOU!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in

to him,

and will sup

with him,

and he

with me.”   Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!