David asks LORD to hear his prayer                            verse 1- 2 

Hear the right – O LORD – attend to my cry

give eye to my PRAYER – that goes not out of feigned lips

      let my sentence come forth from YOUR presence

                  let YOUR eyes behold the things that are equal 

David knows the LORD proves his heart                      verse 3- 5 

YOU have prove mine heart – YOU have visited me in the night

YOU have tried me – and shall find nothing

      I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress

Concerning the works of men

by the word of YOUR lips I have kept me from the

paths of the destroyer

Hold up my goings in YOUR paths – that my footsteps slip not 

David prays for protection and instructions                 verse 6- 12 

I have called on YOU – for YOU will hear me – O God

incline YOUR ear unto me – and hear my speech

Show YOUR marvelous lovingkindness

O YOU that saves by YOUR right hand them which put their

TRUST in YOU from those that rise up against them

Keep me as the APPLE of the eye

hide me under the shadow of YOUR wings

      from the wicked that oppress me

from my deadly enemies

who compass me about

      they are enclosed in their own fat

                  with their mouth they speak proudly

      they have now compassed us in our steps

      they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth

                  like as a lion that is greedy of his prey

                              and as it were a young lion lurking

in secret places 

David acknowledges his standing with the LORD        verse 13- 15 

Arise – O LORD – disappoint him – cast him down

deliver my soul from the wicked – which is YOUR sword

      from men which are YOUR hand –  O LORD

                  from men of the world

                              which have their portion in THIS LIFE

                  and whose belly YOU fill with

YOUR hid treasure

They are full of children – and leave the rest of their             substance

 to their babes

As for me – I will behold YOUR face in righteousness

            I shall be SATISFIED – when I awake – WITH YOUR likeness                

 

COMMENTARY:           

 

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers 

            : 1        Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer that goes

                        not out of feigned lips. (4820 “feigned” [mirmah] means trick, fraud,

                        disillusionment, the quality of being fraudulent, deceit, treachery,

                        guile, false, subtilty, or betrayal

DEVOTION:  The saying used to be “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” The LORD wants us to hear our prayers that are honest. HE wants us to come to HIM with honesty and from a sincere heart. HE wants to hear from us on a daily basis. HE wants us to pray to HIM every moment of every day.

Our life has to be honest with HIM. If we don’t understand what HE is doing in our life we have to ask HIM. Job had to ask HIM many times what was going on. He didn’t think he deserved all that was coming his way.

We feel the same at times and need to trust the LORD if we have made a genuine commitment to HIM that HE is doing what is best for us. We might have other things that we think are best but HE knows what is best.

It is hard to thank HIM for the hard times HE sends our way but again we have to trust HIM to allow only the best to come our way. We don’t always or not even sometimes what is best for us.

David went through many hard times. Job went through many hard times. We will go through them and come out stronger for it.

Our responsibility is to call out to HIM honestly and regularly to watch how HE answers our prayers. Remember HE says “Yes, NO, or wait.” I sometimes don’t like the last answer any better than an NO.

CHALLENGE: HE wants us to be honest with HIM and that will cause us to understand HIS desire for us better. Pray is showing HIM that we trust HIM. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers 

:3         “Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” (Mouth, 6810 פֶּה [peh], mouth, mouth (of man), mouth (as organ of speech), mouth (of animals), mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc.), extremity, end)

DEVOTION: This prayer of David starts out with him checking his own life for things that would displease God.  He notes that he has made it a point not to sin with his mouth.  This is significant in view of the request that he makes (with his mouth) in the remainder of the psalm.  So it is important to check what we have said when we come before God with our petitions.

The mouth (figuratively speaking) can be a source of many different type of sins.  That is why James cautions us about the effect of what we say (James 3:1-12).  Jesus cautions that what we say reflects what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34-37), and therefore we will be judged for what we have said in the day of judgment. 

In addition, the mouth can be a source of meaningless repetition (Matthew 6:7), as well as a source of false allegiance (Matthew 7:21), according to Jesus’ teaching.  Thus, Jesus explains that our lives need to match up to what we are saying.  What truly matters is our heart attitude that is expressed in what we say.

So our mouths should be full of praise and thanksgiving toward our Heavenly Father for all HE has done for us.  We should seek to edify and build up those around us.  There is no room for complaining or lying in the life of the believer. 

CHALLENGE:  Which of these areas are ones which the Lord wants you to examine in your life?                                    (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)

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: 6.  “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.” The New King James Version  (5186 נָטָה, מָנׄול [natah /naw·taw/] 1 to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer. 1A2 to spread out, pitch (tent). 1A3 to bend, turn, incline. 1A3A to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down. 1A3B to bend, bow. 1A3C to hold out, extend (fig.). 1B (Niphal) to be stretched out. 1C (Hiphil). 1C1 to stretch out. 1C2 to spread out. 1C3 to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

DEVOTION:   What a special opportunity to recognize the Lord of all is inclined to listen to us. We have seen that even when we question His presence or His attention he is there and ready to answer!  The psalmist is reminding all who read this section that the Lord is attentive and desires to hear us when we call. He is willing to stretch out, bend, or influence all of nature to communicate with us.

CHALLENGE: When you are tempted to ask where the Lord is remember God loves to listen and stretch out to hear us as we speak! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

            : 7        Show YOUR marvelous lovingkindness, O YOU that saves by YOUR

                        right hand them which put their trust in YOU from those that rise up

                        against them. (2620 “put their trust” [chacah] means to take refuge, to

                        find and go to a safe location or shelter, have hope, flee for protection

                        or confide or hope in God)

DEVOTION:  When things get real difficult in our lives it is hard to understand what God is doing. HE always does what is best for us but we don’t see that sometimes when we are going through a trial.

David went through many trials in his lifetime. He knew that the LORD loved him but he also knew that some of the things that the LORD allowed in his life didn’t seem like blessings that the time.

We are going to have things happen to us that we will not consider blessing but we still have to trust HIM that HE knows what is best for our personal growth in our relationship with HIM.

Some people seem to have it easy compared to what we have gone through in our life. So we think that it isn’t fair. We thing they should go through all the hard times HE allows in our life.
However, we don’t really know what is going on in the life of another person because we don’t see every side of what they are going through. We might think that they have it easier than we are having it but they might think that we have it easier than them.

It is really hard to walk in another person’s shoes because one size doesn’t fit all. We have to accept what the LORD is doing and move on.

The key word is TRUST! We have to trust the God who sent HIS Son to die for our sins. Our sins are different from any other person. We have to understand that HE deals personally will everyone who becomes a believer in a way that will cause them to grow closer to HIM.

Some people don’t need as much trouble in their life to grow closer to the LORD than we do because we are probably more stubborn then them. Acceptance is important because if we are always asking WHY ME! It is hard for us to grow and so the trial has to continue.

HE wants us at a point in our life that people can see Jesus through us.

CHALLENGE: Do people see Jesus through your life and words each day?

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: 15      As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (8544 “likeness” [t@muwnah] means form, image, representation, semblance, or similitude)

DEVOTION: There are many enemies around those who believe in the LORD. There are times when it seems like the enemies are winning. David realizes that the LORD uses the unsaved to chasten those who are followers of the LORD. They are the LORD’S hands on earth. They are not headed to heaven but can still be used of the LORD for the discipline of HIS people.

David is praying for the LORD to show him HIS lovingkindness and protection. David has put his trust in the LORD.

This psalm is an evening prayer of David while he is facing an enemy. David and most Israelites were supposed to pray three times a day: once in the morning; once at noon; and finally at the end of the day. Many of the psalms have prayers included in them.

David asks the LORD to visit him in the night. The LORD can then prove his heart. The LORD has tried him. David has failed some of his tests but has stayed with the LORD through it all. He then turns to the fact that there are enemies out there that want to see him fall. He realizes that the enemies are who the LORD uses as HIS sword to discipline HIS children. He realizes that some of the wicked will have a good life and leave their inheritance to their children.

However, the righteous will have an inheritance in heaven. They will look into the face of the LORD. They will be satisfied. They will awake from death and have a glorified body. The image of God will be restored in heaven. He will be like the Messiah.

Our prayers should be full of these realizations. Our prayers should be ones that express hope in our world of sin. Our prayers should help us realize that the LORD loves us and is the one who will protect us. We are the apple of HIS eye. Praise his name!

Consistency in our life is important to the LORD. A consistent prayer life will help us to understand what the LORD is doing in our life.

CHALLENGE: It will also help us to understand that we are on the winning side. We will awake someday in the presence of the LORD. We will be an image bearer like Christ.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level) 

Prayer of David                                                         verse 1- 15

            Called on God

            Wants God to incline HIS ear

Hear the right

            Attend to my cry

            Give ear to my prayer

            LORD proved his heart

            LORD visited him

            LORD tried him

            Purposed that his mouth would not

                        transgress 

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group) 

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead) 

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)   verse 1, 13, 14

Visited David in the night                                        verse 3

Tried David                                                               verse 3

God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)                        verse 6

Show HIS marvelous lovingkindness                      verse 7

Saves by HIS right hand                                          verse 7 

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)    

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation) 

     Works of men                                                            verse 4

      Men rise up against those who want to obey          verse 7

      Wicked oppress David                                              verse 9

      Enemies                                                                      verse 9

      Greedy for saints                                                       verse 12

      Men of the world                                                       verse 14 

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels) 

Feigned lips                                                                verse 1

Transgress                                                                 verse 3

Paths of the destroyer                                               verse 4

Slip                                                                              verse 5

Wicked                                                                       verse 9, 13

Deadly enemy                                                            verse 9

Speak proudly                                                           verse 10 

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins) 

Attend to cry of righteous                                        verse 1

Prayer                                                                        verse 1, 6

Presence of the LORD                                              verse 2

Proves hearts                                                             verse 3

Tried                                                                           verse 3

Path of the LORD                                                     verse 5

Lovingkindness                                                         verse 7

Save                                                                            verse 7

Trust                                                                           verse 7

Apple of the eye                                                         verse 8

Deliver                                                                        verse 13

Behold the face of the LORD                                  verse 15

Righteousness                                                            verse 15

Satisfied                                                                      verse 15

Likeness                                                                     verse 15 

Israel (Old Testament people of God) 

      David                                                                          verse 1- 15                 

Wants LORD to hear his prayers

Thought God had proved his heart

Believed God would find nothing sinful

                              when he tried him

                  Purposed with his mouth not to

                              transgress

                  Doesn’t want to slip

                  Wants to be apple of God’s eyes

                  Wants to be hidden under HIS wings

                  Wants LORD to disappoint wicked

                  Beholds the face of God in righteousness

 

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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DONATIONS:

Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org.  Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method.  Thank you. 

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QUOTES regarding passage

Ver. 13. Arise, O Lord, &c.] See Psal. 3:7 and 7:6 and 9:19 and 10:12. disappoint him, or prevent his face; be before-hand with him, and so disappoint him, when he is about to seize his prey; who is comparable to the lion, or to the young lion; meaning the chief of his enemies, it may be Saul. Cast him down; every one of them that set themselves to cast down others to the earth. Jarchi’s note is, “cut off his feet,” that he may bow down and fall. Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword; so Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, render the words; that is, from wicked men, whom God makes use of as instruments to afflict and chastise his people: so the Assyrian monarch is called the rod of his anger, with whom he scourged his people Israel, Isa. 10:5. Compare with this Psal. 22:20. The words are rendered by some, deliver my soul from the wicked by thy sword; meaning not the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, by which Christ was delivered from the wicked one, when tempted by him in the wilderness; but the avenging justice of God, the sword of the Lord, which, being whetted and taken hold on, and used by him, brings vengeance on his enemies, and salvation to his people; see Deut. 32:41; Isa. 27:1; Jer. 47:6, 7. The Targum paraphrases the clause thus, “deliver my soul from the wicked, who deserves to be slain by thy sword.” (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 589). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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17:13, 14. The rewards of lust

Two insights into what is stored up for the wicked are put side by side here, with startling effect. The first, i.e., encounter with God (13), is a familiar pattern of judgment, vigorously pictured as halting these men in their tracks (confront them; or, rv mg., ‘forestall them’). The second (14) is its apparent opposite: heaping on them the very things they love. They are men … of the world: give them their fill of it! To have everything but God is judgment enough—a theme made explicit by the utter contrast of the final verse.

The phrases, by thy sword (17:13) … by thy hand (17:14), lack the preposition ‘by’, but it is rightly supplied in translation if these nouns are being used instrumentally with Deliver. Alternatively the nouns could be in apposition to ‘wicked’ and ‘men’, as in av, rv mg.: ‘from the wicked, which is thy sword: from men which are thy hand’—a way of asserting God’s use of evil men as means of judgment; cf. Isaiah 10:5ff. But this seems too big a subject merely to glance at in an aside; therefore the rendering of rsv, etc. is preferable. (Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 106). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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17:13–14a. In contrast with David’s present persecution by worldly men (vv. 6–12) he looked to the prospects of the future. His urgent prayer for the Lord to rise up and deliver him from these wicked people whose reward (portion) is in this life (v. 14) was a reminder of his present dilemma. Because they did not follow the Lord … this life was their only hope of enjoyment. They persecuted the righteous in a number of ways, physically and verbally.

In David’s prayer he called on God’s sword to rescue him. This may refer to the fact that God at times uses human armies, even of the wicked, to punish nations (cf. Isa. 10:5). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 805). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Salvation—“Rescue Me” (vv. 13–15)

David now sees the Lord as his gracious Redeemer, rescuing him and his men from the wicked hands of Saul. These verses contrast the “people of this world” to the “people of God” who live for that which is eternal. “Arise, O Jehovah” reminds us of 3:7, 7:6, 9:19 and 10:12, all of which go back to Numbers 10:35. He asks the Lord to confront Saul and his army, cast them down, and use His sword to defeat them. “Cast down” (v. 13) can be translated “make him crouch down like a lion that has been subdued.” (See v. 12.) Except for his son Jonathan, Saul and his leaders were not spiritually minded but thought only of the things of this fleeting world (39:5; 49:1; 89:47). As “men of the world,” they lived for time, not for eternity, and for their own pleasures, and not for the glory of God. (See Luke 16:8 and 25 and James 5:5.) (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., p. 72). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)

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In verses 10 to 15 you find again contrasted the men of the world and the man of faith. He describes the men of the world, men who live for self, “They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.” They are haughty men, they are enemies of righteousness. “They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.” They are like their master, for “The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). “Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O Lord, disappoint [hinder] him.” It is really little more than “hinder,” it means to get there first before the enemy can do anything. “Cast him down.” But notice how he speaks of these wicked men, “Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is Thy sword. From the men which are Thy hand.” One reason God tolerates wicked men in the world instead of sending them to hell is that He uses them as His scourge for the righteous when they need a whipping. That is why the prophet calls them, ‘Thy sword.” You remember God said that He raised up Nebuchadnezzar to come against the people to punish them. He uses the ungodly to test, to try, and to restrain His own people.

These “men of the world,” “have their portion in this life.” It is like those of whom we read in The Revelation. Frequently in that book we read of “them that dwell upon the earth.” That does not mean people living in this world, but people who have refused the heavenly calling and have their portion down here. They are all about us; they have no interest in heaven; they have no interest in God or His Christ. The only world they care anything about is this world. They “have their portion in this life.” And so they are satisfied with children. The word “full” really means “satisfied.” That is, when a man accumulates a great fortune he says, “I will pass it on to them,” and he just lives on in his children. But with the righteous, how different! They are willing to lay down their lives for the blessing of others if need be. As for these men of the world they leave their substance to their children and do not know what is going to become of it.

But see the contrast. David says, in verse 15, “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” There are three passages in the book of Psalms that I love to link together. They are Psalm 18:30, “As for God, His way is perfect”; Psalm 103:15, “As for man, his days are as grass”; Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” Notice these three statements, “As for God—as for man—as for me.” “As for God, His way is perfect.” No matter what comes I know He makes no mistake. Sickness may come, financial trouble may come, family trouble may come, church troubles may come—and there is no trouble on earth so bad as trouble among the people of God—but no matter what happens, “As for God, His way is perfect.” As for man: David says, I have learned not to expect much from him, “his days are as grass.” But “As for me, … I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Studies on book one of the Psalms (pp. 96–97). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)

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13. This is a beautiful verse, and the doctrine of it is as important as the verse is beautiful. Jesus eyes the hand of the Father in his afflictions. Satan will advance; the enemies of salvation will arise: but the Lord Jehovah is in the permission and appointment: and at the cross also, though Jesus was taken and by wicked hands, crucified and slain; yet, that we may not overlook the first and grand predisposing cause, the Holy Ghost puts it into the mouth of Peter to say, that all this was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Acts 2:23. Reader, it is most profitable, it is blessed, to be always looking beyond second causes in all our trials and distresses, and to discern the Lord’s hand, in infinite love and wisdom, appointing all. For this brings the soul into a state of resignation and tranquillity at least, if not of holy joy. I was dumb: I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. Psalm 39:9. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Job–Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 210). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software)

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FROM MY READING:

 

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. PSALM 40:2

 

Yesterday I shared a poem that I use often when I’m speaking or talking with someone about divorce, especially about how it leaves children feeling “split in two,” as Jen Abbas put it. Actually, Jen experienced this twice—once at the age of 6 and again at the age of 18, when her mom and stepfather divorced. The second one caught her as she was leaving home for college, a time in life when she expected her family to be there for her, both to launch her and to provide that “solid patch of land” we all need when we feel unsupported or insecure.  

But I want you to see again—and be blown away by—the power of the gospel as it descends upon a person who is lost and alone. When the land cracked under Jen’s feet as a college freshman, she jumped— just hoping to land somewhere. She was wide open to any belief system that would win her hand. Islam. Budaism. Taoism. Buddhism. Questioning everything, she went in search of something—anything—that wouldn’t prove fickle and fleeting, the way her parents’ love had. But in her quest for spiritual security, she found every path closed and incomplete. There was only one path that stood out—the one with the element of grace embedded in it, the one that wasn’t about what she did but about what she could be given. Divorce had taught this young woman that if you’re not always alert, constantly scanning the horizon for warning signs, love could leave. But in the person of Jesus Christ, she discovered that she was loved regardless of her performance. He changed her life. 

There’s hope for children of divorce—who make up 40 percent of adults today. Hope in Jesus Christ. Hope in His grace to forgive and in His power to help you forgive as well. 

DISCUSS 

Share with one another how the love of Jesus Christ has helped you forgive another person.(Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)

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THE NATURE OF SELF 

If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 
Matthew 18:9 
The modern cult of self-expression fails to realize the true nature of self. It talks much about giving expression to self, and yet we can show very easily that its very ideas concerning that self are false and do violence to man’s true nature. Obviously, before expression must come definition; and our objection is not so much to the idea of self-expression per se as to the utterly false view of that self that is taken by so many today. The gospel answer to this modern cult is not a doctrine of repression, but rather a call to the realization of the true nature of the self. The clash between the biblical view and that of moderns comes out very clearly in the quoted lines above, especially in the emphasis that Christ places on the word thee. “If thine eye offend thee…cast it from thee…it is better for thee….”
The modern view does not differentiate between the self and the various factors that tend to influence the self, the various factors that the self uses in order to express itself. They claim that man in himself is but the result of these and their effects. Our Lord, on the other hand, draws that distinction very clearly and definitely in His emphasis on the word thee. That He does so is perhaps the real cause of all the modern confusion.
According to Christ, man is not a machine, nor is he an animal led and governed by whim. He is bigger than the body, bigger than tradition, history, and all else. For there is within man another element called the soul. 
A Thought to Ponder: There is within man another element called the soul. 
(From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 20-21,24, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Whole Law
“Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 18:5)
The absolute holiness of God is emphasized throughout the book of Leviticus, and this is the standard for all those created in His image. This is made clear, beyond question, when today’s verse is quoted in the New Testament: “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them” (Galatians 3:11-12).
It is not enough that a man keep most of God’s laws. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10).
It is obvious, therefore, that while “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12), no human being (except Jesus Christ) has ever been able to keep God’s perfect law, and all are therefore under God’s condemnation. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
The widespread delusion that a person can be saved by good works is dangerous, and many are on the road to hell smug in their supposed goodness. To keep the law, however, the Creator Himself had to become man, and He did fulfill the law as our representative before God. Then, when He died, Christ “redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested . . . by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Romans 3:21-22). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Everything happens for a reason and that reason causes change. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it’s hard. But in the end, it’s all for the best. Never stop trusting God and His plans.

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Philippians 4

We must focus on those things which are pure and good.
INSIGHT

You are what you eat.” Your body reflects what you feed it. Eat well and your body rewards you with health. The same is true spiritually and mentally. We become like what we put into our minds and like what we allow our minds to dwell on. Paul encourages us to think about whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, or of good report (v. 8). If you are unsatisfied with your spiritual, mental, or emotional development, ask yourself: “What do I put into my mind – what do I think about?” You may need a radical change in your spiritual diet.  (Quiet Walk)

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HATED BY THE WORLD

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 1 John 3:13
Let me put this as a historical fact. This is one of the great principles that we find in the Bible from the beginning. There are many people who have difficulty with this verse. If this is true of you, you have somehow failed to understand the first great essential divisions of the Bible. The difference between Cain and Abel was in Cain, not in Abel. Cain (the world) hates Abel (the Christian). Look at Joseph and his brethren. Look at David and Saul; read the story of how King Saul treated David and tried to get rid of him—the jealousy, envy, and malice. Look at the treatment that was meted out to the prophets, those men of God who were trying to save the nation. It is there everywhere.
Look at the supreme example of our Lord Himself. Here is the Son of God incarnate; here is the eternal life in the flesh. Look at the world sneering at Him, how they picked up stones to cast at Him, how they shouted, “Crucify Him, away with Him!” The world crucified the very Son of God who had come to save it! “Marvel not, my friends, if the world hate you.” The world does not hate you because you are hateful people; the case of Cain and Abel proves that. Cain did not hate his brother because there was something hateful about him. There was nothing hateful in Abel, but Cain hated him in spite of that.
Neither does the world hate us because we are good. Let us be quite clear about that. The world does not hate good people; the world only hates Christian people. That is the subtle, vital distinction. If you are just a good person, the world, far from hating you, will admire you; it will cheer you. And what is true of the individual is true of the whole Church. The world, we are told, hates Christians, not because they are hateful, not because they are good, not because they do good, but specifically because they are Christians, because they are of God, because they have Christ within them.
A Thought to Ponder: The world does not hate good people; the world only hates Christian people. (From Children of God, pp. 101-102, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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A Purpose in Suffering

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