Daily Wisdom

Psa 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy, at they right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

The greatest gift one can obtain is the joy of God’s presence, that in it our pleasures exist. Therefore, one’s heart is to be glad, and his soul to rejoice that the flesh can rest in such promised hope (vs 9). That gift is granted through Christ and the cross, and by one’s acceptance he is engifted the presence of the Holy Spirit of God that dwells within. This Psalm was quoted three times in the N.T. by Peter and Paul speaking of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2:25-28; 2:31; 13:35-37) and our eternal hope. Jesus himself acknowledges the only “Joy” is in the Father’s presence, and prayed for the Father to fill his human nature with His “fulness of joy”: (Jn 17:5 “And now O Father, glorify thou unto me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was,”) Jesus understood and longed for the only true joy that exist, the presence of God!

Find God’s purpose and you’ll find the “path of life”, and with it the pleasure of God’s presence.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lk 9:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jn 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished and gave up the ghost”

This was the ultimate “drop the mic” moment of all time. The final word spoken by Jesus on the cross was (teleō) comprised of three words in English “It is finished.”  Sadly, too many since then have continually tried to pick up the mic and add something to the word “teleo!”  What Jesus sought to accomplish by His eternal sacrifice was achieved through the cross, and was gifted to man without need of anything being added. Don’t pick up the mic and try to add to the story in anyway, just re-gift (Eph 2:8) what was given to you, and finished by Jesus by simply retelling what you were told. Jesus redeeming, and sacrificial work is the greatest gift that can be given (Jn 15:13), the only thing we must simply do is re-wrap it and share His eternal love with others.

Salvation is the only gift that keeps on given… for eternity!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 141:5 “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be ab excellent oil which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.”

David’s Psalm comes in a time of trial, both spiritual and physical (1 Sam 24:1-7). In spite of his circumstances, David illustrates for us the importance of conduct amidst such trials in our life. The Psalm calls for God’s protection from the enemy, but also seeks humility in the circumstances. He acknowledges that a righteous (just, Godly brethren) smite and rebuke is in kindness, and would be as an anointing oil protecting him not crushing him. Nobody likes criticism, especially amidst trials but everybody can benefit from it when it’s given wisely and taken humbly. David sees it as Helpful, not hurtful… takes it in Humility, not in haste, and he refuses to Harbor hate: “my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Learning this as David did allows criticism to become productive rather than destructive in one’s life, no matter how it was intended. I never had a trial I wanted to have, but when humbled I never had a trial I wasn’t glad I had.

Trials are like a hammer pounding a nail, it only drives you deeper into your faith.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

I Cor 15:51 “Behold, I shew you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”

All men face limitations. While some may be blind, they see a new way to live. Some deaf, but can still hear the good news. Others lame, but walk can walk in God’s love. But, we have the promised encouragement that our limitations are temporal, we’ll be changed instantly (vs 52) from corruptible to incorruptible, from dishonor to glory, from weakness to power, and from mortal to spiritual bodies. The dead in Christ by resurrection, and the living into immortality by the mystery (rapture) and its sudden power. Point, if such powerful change is coming, and it is, why not start the spiritual metamorphosis now!  Spiritual growth is like a boat going to the ocean. Before it gets there, it’s dragged with much effort, but once it reaches the ocean it is propelled without effort by powerful wind. The distance it travels on the ocean in one day is far greater than it can be dragged by force in a hundred days. Change is inevitable, but growth is optional.  If one chooses to change spiritually, it requires God’s consistency.

Spiritual change comes by continual progression, not instant perfection.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Heb 13:5 “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Oh, but money will and so will those man-made comforts that are attached. Often even acquaintances (not friends) will depart when you no longer offer them benefit or fit into their measurement of worth. Don’t fall prey to measuring your worth by worldly wealth, you will only devalue your true worth. Paul illustrates in (Phl 4:11) that we must find our contentment and worth through God’s standard of measurement only, anything different is volatile and will fluctuate as much as a piece of stock. Don’t let this world put a price tag on you, and be willing to walk away from anything or one who does so. Maybe you’ve marked yourself down with worldly standards. It’s God who determines our worth.  Get off the clearance rack and get behind the glass where they keep the valuables! Because you were “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psa 139:14).

A butterfly can’t see the brilliant colors in its wings, so a man misses the beauty God sees in them!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For he (Hezekiah) clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.” II Kg 18:6

To see the promises of God prevail one must live in the righteousness of Him who provides them. Hezekiah withstood the threats of Assyria’s words to destroy Judah (II Kg 18) by doing what he always did, “that which was right in the sight of the Lord” (11 Kg 18:3). Hezekiah when threatened by worldly power that besieged Jerusalem, blasphemed God, reviled himself, and solicited his people to revolt responded with spiritual strength (II Kg 19:1). The power and promises of God prevail when man does “that which is right in the sight of the Lord.” When faith in God’s righteousness arises, a certainty comes that when we call, He will answer… that when we ask, we will receive… that when we knock, the door will be open (Rev 3:20).

God does not make promises that are too good to be true.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lam 3:41 “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

In this passage (vss 39-42) we’re guided to respond properly to God’s faithfulness through prayer (lifting of the hands is a prayer gesture – Psa 141:2 “Let my prayer be set forth, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”). Just as parent’s discipline children to produce right behavior, God disciplines us to produce right living and true worship. Our prayer must not be towards complaining about corrective or instructive discipline in our lives but learn from it, and be willing to trust and allow God’s actions to make a change. But the heart must go with the gesture, or it’s of no avail; the soul must be lifted to God in earnest desire towards Him in faith, hope and love (1 Th 5:8). The scripture urges man to search out his faults and amend them, like your child, if their willing to change and correct their actions, you don’t have to do it for them.

Pride is not pride because it hates being wrong, but because it hates to admit it’s wrong: to hate being wrong is to change your opinion when proven wrong; whereas pride, even when proven wrong, refuses change and decides to continue being wrong.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lam 3:25 "The Lord is good unto them that wait upon him, to the soul that seeketh after him."
Lam 3:26 "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."
Lam 3:27 "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."

In these three verses, each beginning in the Hebrew word “good” (̣tôb – tobe), we have the fundamental idea and truth that God Himself is good, and if good to all (Psa 145:9 “The Lord is good to all…”), then especially is He so to those who being in adversity can wait in confidence upon His mercy and deliverance. This “goodness” of God is the same good God Himself realized in Gen 1:4 “And God saw the light, that it was good…” If God’s goodness is good to Him, we must be able to see His goodness towards us as well in all matters. Understand, like David, God may reveal His goodness in your life while facing a giant!

The giant in front of you is never bigger than the goodness of God within you!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Isa 59: 19b “… When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Isaiah, due to the prevailing sin in the world that causes truth to fail, illustrates that he who departs from such sin makes himself a prey (vs 15). And while such a man has no intercessor on his behalf, he does have the promise of God’s right arm and righteousness to sustain him (vs 16). Thus, when the enemy approaches as a flood of evil against him the Holy Spirit lifts a standard; a prevailing wind of truth through Christ and the gospel that restrains and over-powers their evil efforts. And God will deal with them as they deserve, according to retribution (Rev 13:10). If we prevail in fleeing evil, God will prevail in causing evil to flee us! Refuse to let the world corrupt you (Jm 1:27), and you’ll find the promise of the Holy Spirt will comfort you.

If God delivers you from evil, don’t stay in touch with it!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Rom 1:11  "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;"

Paul never used God's people for his purpose or to build his work, but rather used his gifts to encourage and build God's people. In every encounter or relationship you leave something behind, it will either magnify God or yourself. Easy to tell, when you exit they'll either know more about you or God. Christian character chooses thoughts and beliefs based on Godly value not personal gain. If there is any way to turn others off to the value of God is to have a selfish hypocritical character. Professing God and projecting self is problematic.

Take on Christ character, and your reputation will take care of itself.

HSAY... Todd

Daily Wisdom

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." Jn 4:10

Don't miss an opportunity with Jesus because you're busy making a day instead.  As Jesus proclaimed the promise of living water, the woman at the well was more focused on her surroundings and missed the presence of the Saviour. She was so content in her expectations of the future (vs 25) she was missing the present (vs 26).  Don't get complacent in your expectations of God's workings, and get so caught up in your priorities that you miss an opportunity in His presence.

You'll make a day worthwhile when you make it about Jesus!