Bible Pathways - July 11, 2009
July 11
Highlights In Today's Reading:
The Holy Spirit leads the writer to talk and walk with God, and then tells everyone why and how to worship Him. God has made us and our God reigns. Give glory to His Name, everyone sing praise to the Lord. Praise Him for His holiness, His love, His faithfulness, and most of all for His long-suffering. Praise Him for our salvation. What a mighty and marvelous God we serve!
These psalms begin with having full confidence in who the One True God is. We serve the Lord because of what He is in Himself — the infinitely perfect Most High for evermore. . . . Clothed with majesty. . . . Judge of the earth. . . . Rock of my refuge (92:8; 93:1; 94:2,22). O COME, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. . . . For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens (95:1-3; 96:5).
Therefore we are enabled to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We are led to come before His presence with a joyful spirit — singing and giving thanks and praise for the Lord is good . . . His truth endureth to all generations (100:5).
Some lack this spiritual fulfillment because they have allowed themselves to reflect the attitude of unbelievers when confronted with adverse circumstances. By "deciding" to be unhappy and dissatisfied, they not only dishonor the Lord but also deprive themselves of the joy of an abundant, peaceful life.
Habitual faultfinding, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness destroy the daily joy to be experienced through testings of our faith (James 1:2; Col. 1:11). We should recognize Christ as Lord of our lives each day, for we are bought with a price (I Cor. 6:20).
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Col. 3:16).
Now fresh in our hand each week is laid
A clean, new book, by the Master made, Unmarred are the pages lying there
Seven new chapters so fresh and fair.
Each day is a one-way street. Live in the consciousness that you cannot pass this way again. When we serve the Lord with gladness no day can be wasted or desolate. Our supreme need is to recognize Christ as Lord of Life. And this fact is a pathway that leads right into His presence with singing.
Blessing . . . and thanksgiving, and honour . . . be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen (Rev. 7:12).
Thought for Today:
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).
Christ Revealed:
As the Creator: It is He that hath made us (Ps. 100:3). All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11).
Word Studies:
92:6 brutish man = one who rejects reason or propriety; 93:5 holiness becometh Thine House = Your perfection distinguishes beyond compare; 94:20 throne of iniquity = power of evildoers; frameth mischief by a law = seeks to establish evil by law; 95:7 of His hand = under His care; 99:3 terrible = awesome, revered greatly, greatly to be feared.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Barbara Bivens • Government Official: Rep. Edward Markey (MA) • Country: Syria (17 million) in southwestern Asia • Major languages: Arabic and Kurdish • Limited religious freedom for Christians • 90% Muslim; 4% Eastern Orthodox; 2% Roman Catholic; .25% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Believe that what God promises, He will bring to pass (Gen. 15:1-6 & 21:1-3).
Optional Reading: 1 Timothy 2
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 7:21
