Daily Wisdom..."Path for Blessing"

“…Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Pt 2:21

What if the greatest disappointments and aching of this life revealed a greater thirst than this life can quench or satisfy and yet in the rain and storms the greatest mercies show forth, would you still be able and willing to walk as God has called you? The greatest of hope that we have in Christ is only as strong as our walk we have with Him.  Hope is only a wishful hope when we are unwilling to walk with the Lord; it’s when we choose to walk the path God directs that our hope becomes instead a promise which offers strength and courage for our life. The song “Blessings” illustrates that often the mercies we desire are disguised in the storms of life, yet we chose to abandon our walk with God and the path we’re heading to avoid such storms. And unfortunately by avoiding the storms we can miss the greatest of blessings God has for us.

The surest way to find hopelessness is to sit and wonder if it will work; keep walking and God will show you an expected end. (Jere 29:11)

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."David's Prayer"

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me and in thy righteousness.”  Psalm 143:1

The earnestness of David's prayer here is seen in the fact of it being offered upon the Faithfulness and Righteousness (vss 1-2) of God’s promises He has for us. In these truths, see the transcending greatness of this remarkable prayer.

"The enemy hath persecuted ... smitten me down ... made me to dwell in dark places ... as those been long dead" (vs 3). David founded his prayer, namely, on the evil and reprobate actions of his son Absalom.

"My spirit is overwhelmed ... my heart is desolate" (vs 4). His petition is desperate with the extremity of his own personal condition. Unless God is ready to destroy him, help must come at once.

"I remember ... I meditate ... I muse" (vs 5). David remembers the promises God had made to him; he mediates upon the marvelous deliverances God has provided for him in the past; he muses upon the fulfillment of the terrible prophecy of the disaster God would raise up against him, "from his own house." David pleads here that he is disciplined and corrected by God's dealings with him.

"I stretch forth my hands unto thee ... my soul thirsteth after thee" (vs 6). Referring to a well know jester of prayer.  The souls-hunger and thirst for God has reached a climax in the heart of David, the very earnestness and eagerness of which are here pleaded as grounds of his petition.

Summarizing this great prayer should offer us the same encouragement in petitioning God: (1) the unmerited grace, faithfulness and righteousness of God to keep His promises (vs1); (2) the systematic behavior of the enemy (vs 3); (3) the extreme personal need of the petitioner (vs 4); (4) the petitioner's trust in the God who has so often delivered him (vs 5); and (5) the hungering and thirsting after the righteousness of God to intervene (vs 6). Such is the love and promise of God for those who call.

“Blesses are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6)


HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Eternal God"

“And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” Heb 1:10-12

The author of Hebrews quotes Psa 102:25-27. In the quotation, he regards God as the speaker and applies the words to the Son, Jesus. It is God's eternal nature that provides the psalmist comfort in the midst of his suffering, for just as God's years "will not come to an end," so too will God's chosen children prosper forever (v. 28). The earth and the heavens folded up like a garment reveals that the neither earth, nor life is permanent or indestructible. Jesus' authority is established over all of creation, so we dare not treat any created object or earthly resource as more important than He is. When we spend more time on self rather than serving Christ, we treat ourselves (his creation) as being more important than our Creator. When we regard our finances, rather than our faith in Christ, as the basis for security, we give higher status to an earthly resource than we do to God. Rather than trusting in changeable and temporary resources, trust in God, who is eternal author and finisher of our faith.

PRAY: Praise; Repent; Ask; Yield

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Spiritual Attitude"

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”  Psa 119:67

However God has dealt with us, he has dealt with us better than we deserve; and all in love, and for our good.  Verse 71: states “It is good for me that I have been afflicted…” In life will endure trials and tribulations and such hardship often gives us a point reflection in and on our life. We are most apt to wander from God, when we are easy in the world, and into the snares of satan.  “Before I was afflicted” reads in the Latin Vulgate, “Before I was humbled”.  Such encounters in life offer a greatest of reward for those who seek right.  A humbled spirit opens ones heart to the will of God, allowing Him to do a “good” work in them.  Rom 8:28 “And we know that all things work for good to them that love God…”  This is an attitudinal truth in which Christians must acknowledge God does and will work all things for His glory and their betterment.  Little is learned in victory as compared to defeating situations; we must use such afflictions to grow in God’s grace by turning back to His word and remain in His will.

“When you see God’s reason for living, you’ll never find a reason to quit.”

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Apostasy/Apathy"

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away; Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” II Tim 3:5; 7

Apostasy - a renunciation or abandonment of one’s religious faith

Apathy - Lack of interest or concern

Apathetic – Apostasy…one’s indifference or unconcerned thoughts of the falling away from the truth. Paul states that such a mindset present perilous times defining man as lovers of their own selves, unthankful, covetous, unholy and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Paul's descriptive list in (vss 2-4) describes our society today—unfortunately, the behavior of many Christians. Don't give in to society's pressures. Don't settle for comfort more than commitment and compassion. While one may chose to ignore, in no way can they evade the presence of God? It is the Christians lack of thought or concern towards the next life that has rendered them so ineffective in this one.  The acceptance of mediocrity in society has embedded its fangs in all matters, thus truth is never learned and the heart continues in its old ways.  Then suddenly you will realize that the reason things never change for good and for God is because you chose not to!

"We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it's there for emergencies but he hopes he'll never have to use it."

HSAY...Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Legacy"

“For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim 4:8

For many the start of this passage is favorably quoted…and while truthful the real value lies in the fullness of the passage; not only for oneself but those in their life who benefit from their spiritual exercise.  One of my greatest joys and fulfillment is seeing our children though outside the home attending church worship and under the influence of God’s word.  That’s a legacy that provides a greater value than any worldly inheritance: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of God shall stand forever” Isa 40:8.  The value of what you leave behind is not what is seen, it’s the image of Christ that one was able to impress and weave into the lives of others hearts that is truly of value.  

“We all have footprints we leave in the sand, the question is, will you be a big heal, or a great soul?”

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Deception"

“Thus saith the Lord; deceive not yourselves…” Jeremiah 37:9

Deception plays one as a fool. When by our own actions or allowing others to deceive us concerning truth, we are vulnerable to the weakest attack. By Judah’s unwillingness to hearken unto the words of the Lord prophesied by Jeremiah, they were overcome and destroyed by the Chaldean army that only consisted of wounded soldiers remaining from their prior defeat from Judah themselves. Sadly, numbers often witness the fatal effects of other men’s sins only to step into their places, and follow the same destructive course. The king of Judah sought Jeremiah to pray unto the Lord for their behalf, yet like most sinners who are deceived lack the ability to do that which is just, thus their hearts are hardened by a pause in judgment. Deception is a dreadful thing, creates a false opinion and vain persuasion in one’s hopes. Sad is the disappointment when men are elated with a false and vain hope for their souls. Unless a believer can appreciate their own weakness and incompetence to encounter the super-natural, they shall be deceived.    

Man’s intellectual deception always precedes his moral rejection of God

HSAY…Todd  

Daily Wisdom..."Promises vs Potential"

“It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil I purpose to do unto them…It may be they will present their supplication before the Lord, and return every one from his evil way…” Jeremiah 36:3 & 7

The greatest hindrance to your life in Christ and what it offers for tomorrow are the buts you use today.  We see such promise and potential offered with Jeremiah recording “It may be” twice in chapter 36.  From God’s perspective it’s written as a promise to those who turn to Him, for us it reads as potential to turn to God and find His blessings…Promises verses Potential.  It’s ones continual effort to walk towards and in God’s promises that unlocks and reveals our potential, not strength or intelligence.  Christians can be prone to place “buts” on the promises of God that create the greatest limitation on their faith..  “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” (Eph 3:20)  God communicates to his people such blessings - that they may become filled with all fullness, to those who act on His promises.  One’s greatest success in life is that “it may be” their ability to unlock their fullest potential by turning towards Christ Jesus.

You never know what God is capable of until you are willing try what He has to offer.

HSAY…Todd  

Daily Wisdom..."In Christ"

“In whom we have obtained an inheritance…” Eph 1:11

Death is not the dissolution of our identity, but the way to its fullest revelation…In Christ.  The term, ‘In Christ” is spoken by Paul eleven times in Ephesians 1 (vss 1-14) clearly illustrating one’s identity through and in Christ. Interestingly this passage is spoken as one continual sentence in the original language and offers no commandments, but only to indentify our inheritance “In Christ.” Signaling the fact that our identity is not determined by possessions, performance or pain, but only by redemption through His blood (vs 7). The woman spoken of in Luke 13, had a spirit of infirmity and was bent over for eighteen years, unable to lift herself up. This bent over view of life in which she lived was of satan’s domain, bond to the dust of the earth to live (Gen 3:14). This is not our true identity, looking at the dust as our only option.  We must learn and become aware of our true identity “In Christ” – the perfect, blameless standing we have in Him.  See yourself as God see’s you, holy and righteous “In Christ” (Col 3:12; 2 Cor 5:21). When you come to see your true Christian identity, you will then be willing and able to walk upright and in a way that is pleasing to God and will start seeing yourself as God see’s you…”In Christ!”

HSAY…Todd/SJ

Daily Wisdom..."Humility and Contentment"

“…for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: but ye hearkened not unto me.”  Jeremiah 35:14

Humility and contentment are always the best policy, and men's surest protection.  Rechab, the father of the Rechabites, charged his posterity not to drink wine. He also appointed them to dwell in tents: teaching them not to think of settling anywhere in this world knowing it was not there home. Jonadab, his son, was unwilling to go against his father’s commandments and partake of the wine offered them.  Interesting and yet sad, that man can be more loyal to man and the world than he can the word and will of God.  The Rechabites were more concerned with running into unlawful pleasures; they denied themselves even lawful delights… Paul states: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Cor 6:12).  Our actions toward living should not be approached in a manner of what is simply lawful or appealing to us, but what is both spiritually and physically healthy for us. Jeremiah pleaded on behalf of God for the Israelite’s to glean such a truth, unfortunately for Israel and many Christians today their emphasis is geared towards their own desires, not God’s!

There is more power in one act of obedience, than a hundred sermons.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Promise or Promises"

“And you were now turned and had done right in my sight…but ye turned and polluted my name…ye, have not hearkened unto me…” Jere 34:15-17

Be cautious not to get labeled as a man who was thought to be of promise; to only reveal oneself as one of promises!  Sadly, Zedekiah (king of Judah) only found his need for God once he was under siege from his enemy for choosing to break God’s covenant and live against His will.   Although Jeremiah’s prophecy declared Judah would be captured, Zedekiah was still in a condition to receive good terms, unfortunately Zedekiah was unwilling to live out the promise he offered for God’s deliverance.  Be cautious in seeking repentance before God, to only return to your ways of living. Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, never intending to go beyond, it can spew forth knowing it cost nothing. The promises of the bible are nothing more than God’s covenant to be faithful to His people; it’s His character that makes them valid.  In the same light, man’s repentance before God is only as valid as the character of the man who offers them up.

HSAY…Todd    

Daily Wisdom..."Secular Christianity"

For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?  Jeremiah 5:26-31

"churches don't need new members half as much as they need old members made over. There wouldn't be so many non-church goers if there were not so many non-going churches." Despite what the political commentaries and analyst would like you to believe, the problem in America is not as much the politicians; it's the Pulpits/Christian body.  Too much of the Christian front has become a "humanistic grace-cheapened" culture...secular-Christianity that is motivated by a self-serving, people pleasing, sin tolerant society.  We have society labeled, so-called Christian leaders who self-profess they are not called to fight (1 Tim 6:12), but to be a life-coach and encourager.  A 2005 survey of American preachers and ministers were asked by Barna Research "which book was the most influential on their ministry and personal lives." A secular writing (The Purpose Driven Life) was the number one response over the Bible!  We have moral/sin atrocities taking place in our society dealing with life choices, life styles and the indoctrination of our children to secular humanism and Pastors are attending church growth seminars, using self-help books and chasing butts and bucks to grow their churches instead of the Kingdom Church. Too many pulpits are silent and too many professed Christians have taken a secular approach to the church and their Christ-like living.  Jeremiah asks a very poignant question, "...and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"

"Could a mariner sit idle if he heard a drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and lust let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit in Zion with the world around you Damned?"

HSAY...Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Exercised Faith"

“My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  Psa 22:1

David in the midst of his own personal anguish utters the same words Jesus would speak some 1,020 years later from the Cross (Mt. 27:46) while carrying our burden of sin; yet these words were not a cry of doubt, but an urgent appeal to God.   This may be applied to any child of God, pressed down, overwhelmed with grief and terror. But even the complaint of such burdens is a sign of spiritual life, and spiritual senses exercised.  “…why hast thou forsaken me?” is the language of a heart binding up its hope, trust and faith in God's favour; this must be applied to Christ.  Being truly man, Christ felt a natural unwillingness to pass through such great sorrows, yet his zeal and love prevailed. Christ declared the holiness of God, his heavenly Father, in his sharpest of sufferings by enduring in God’s will and knowing “Our fathers trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them.” (vs 5)  Psalm 22 cries out complaints of discouragement with prayers for deliverance and lifts praises for mercy and redemption.  We cannot rejoice in God as our song, unless we ourselves trust upon Him as our strength and take the comfort of spiritual hope, when we cannot have spiritual delights.

The same God that offers up blessings is the same God who provides deliverance; either case it requires the same FAITH! 

HSAY...Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Save, Lord:"

“Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.”  Psa 20:9

Even the greatest of men may be much in trouble, thus the greatest of men must be in great prayer. Confident as they are of success and triumph, yet they do not forget their dependence on God; they do not forget that victory must come from his hand. There was, indeed, exultation, but it was exultation in the belief that God would grant deliverance - an exultation connected with, and springing from prayer. Prayer is not inconsistent with the most confident anticipation of success in any undertaking; and confidence of success can only spring from prayer.  Verse 5 says…”we will set up our banners” just as an army unfurls its flag or ensigns to rally, fight and defend; Christians must stand to fight behind the banner of their salvation in Christ and the Lord will fulfill all thy petitions (vs 5).  The war has been won and victory promised, but battles still rage and linger until His promised return. “Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call”…amidst our battles knowing “…the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.” (vs 6)

HSAY…Todd