Daily Wisdom

1 Tim 1:8 “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.”

The only purpose for the law (old covenant) is to better us, not burden us. The proper use of the law will direct us to the power of God’s Grace, the promise of His Mercy and the joy of His Peace (vs 2). None of which can man obtain or materialize on his own!  

Point being: The law doesn’t give us life, it makes life better in and through the Lord.

In Rom 3:31, Paul says “we establish the law.”  That is by the law of justification by faith.  In this the moral law is confirmed, its obligation is enforced, and its obedience secured by the following:

1.      God used the law to show sinners it could not be violated with impunity.

2.      Jesus magnified it by showing God was just and determined to judge the unrighteous.

3.      The sinner sees the evil by way of the law, thus giving his heart in faith by obedience.

In the glory of salvation is, that while it justifies the sinner, it brings the newest of influence from heaven, more tender and mightier than can be drawn from any other source to produce obedience.

The law showed man’s demise, Grace showed man a promised destiny!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

1 Tim 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.”

It is said, there is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience, and it exist as a choice in faith, a repetitive one.

The path to a clear conscience requires a consistent choice to live in faith and treasuring it above all else by choosing to do in Christ what is right.  

The aim of any captain is to salvage his ship by keeping it in the smoothest of waters. Therefore, the decisions we make by faith will directly determine our ability to hold a good conscience despite of the storms around us. Otherwise we find ourselves in the roughest of circumstances that can shipwreck our spirit.

Doing the right thing is a choice, and with it comes a good conscience! (Acts 24:16)

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Jn 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

We fail in the work of grace and love when there is too much of us and not enough of Jesus. Remember, it’s not what we have to offer but Who we have to offer!

Point being: What the world needs is not more Christianity, but more Christians who practice Christianity.

Our emphasis should not be on how good of a Christian we are, not on pleasing the religious or maintain the status quo. Rather on how great of a Saviour we serve to those who have no hope outside of Jesus Christ.

Our purpose is to introduce the Gospel of Jesus to those around us by a sincere love one for another and let Jesus sort out the sincere from the insecure.  

Don’t get caught up in needless or meaningless methodologies and focus instead on the Gospel given to us in Christ Jesus and share it with unwavering faith and by any means necessary (1 Cor 13:1-9)

Nothing speaks clearer concerning love than the cross!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Mt 6:25 “Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, and what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

A radical devotion to Christ is not easy… it’s not comforts, health, wealth or prosperity in this life. Radical devotion to Christ risks all these things exchange. But, in the end, such risk finds in Christ rewards greater than life itself has to offer.  

Every Christian should be both conservative and radical; conservative in preserving the faith and radical in living it out in this life. Knowing every Christian this side of heaven owes the Gospel to every person this side of hell.

Jesus, the truth and purpose of the Christian faith is the wildest, most radical person the world has ever known. Thus, the most radical demand of the Christian faith lies in summoning the courage to say yes to the risen and present Jesus Christ.

Radical faith calls one to live in truth that’s unafraid to put oneself in situations where they will be in trouble if Jesus doesn’t come through.

Radical faith calls for God’s interruption of self so that we can join the purpose of our Saviour.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Isa 63:2 “Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?”

Edom was a constant enemy of Israel despite its common ancestry in Isaac (Gen 25:23). Edom rejoiced at any trouble Israel faced. The imagery in this passage is of a watchman on the wall of Jerusalem, seeing Edom approaching and fearing that the Edomite king in his red garment is attacking. But, it’s the Lord, in bloodstained clothes, showing who has destroyed Edom and sin.

Point being: As God’s children we must show our Christian colors if we are to be true to Jesus.

The scriptures are laden with the imagery of colors. Too many to list in this devotional, but none the less purposeful in God’s message.  Here are a few that strongly illustrate God’s purpose and how we must embolden these colors in our daily life. Allowing others to see the beauty of Jesus:

Blue – eternity heaven, God’s dwelling.

Purple – king royalty, our Messiah Jesus.

Scarlet (red) – atonement, Jesus shedding of His blood for the reparation of our sin.

White – righteousness, Jesus (Christians) eternal clothing by Jesus redemptive work.

The adage goes: stay with someone long enough and their true colors will show.

Question: The longer someone knows you are they able to see the blue, purple, red, white imagery of eternity through Jesus or do different colors come to the surface?

Every life is full of color, make sure it’s bringing out the God-colors.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Job 19:25 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”

Where there is uncertainty there cannot be peace, and certainty is evident by one’s faith. We know this according to (Heb 11:1) – faith is the confidence/assurance that what we hope for will truly happen; giving us evidence about the things we cannot see.

Faith that can only exist in the light of victory and seen certainty is one which really affirms self while pretending to affirm Jesus, for it only follows in the belief that Jesus has conquered death. Yet a faith that can look at the horror of the cross and still say “yes” is one that says “no” to self.

One’s faith towards God through Jesus must be sure and steadfast, that it may bring joy to the conscience, and placing it in peace.  When a man has this certainty, he overcomes the dependence of self and the lies of the serpent; but if he is doubtful or unknowing of the doctrine, it is for him very dangerous to live with “self.”

Faith is the evidential certainty that God is in control of everything, and thus our peace!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…”

Our society is good at utilizing scripture and graphics to design and market products that bring monetary profits. In doing so making such verses as (Psa 46:10) easily quotable but lacking the fullness and power of its context within the whole chapter.

This verse is beautiful when quoted by itself and does bring a hope for comfort and peace. But, many people believe it simply means to “rest or relax” in God.  And while it does cause one to reflect on who God is, there is more to this Psalm than the simple popular quoted form.

In the full context of (Psalms 46), there’s a more powerful statement of awe in who God is than simple rest. The words “be still” is written during a time of trouble and war; therefore, changing its fullness to much more than simple rest.

Looking at the words “be still” in the original language (raphah) is the Hebrew word meaning to "cease or forsake" in striving to do.  Meaning more specifically "stop fighting" the enemies before you. The Psalmist is encouraging us to "stop fearing and warring" and acknowledge who our God is "be still and KNOW that I am God."

And while (vs 10) has something to say to both the enemies of God and the people of God, it’s written to His children. To grasp the fullness, start in (vs 1) “God is our refuge and strength, (emphasis added), a very present help in trouble.”  Going on to tell us, we shall not fear even though the earth be removed, and mountains carried into the sea… (vs 2).

Keep in mind this is a Psalm, a song sung by the choirmaster. Sung as a promise of security in God and our eternal hope despite what wars around us. The Psalmist throughout the eleven verses, describes the Lord’s characteristics and attributes: He is our refuge, strength, presences, His voice melts the earth. The imagery of who God is and what He provides during the heights of our wars should cause us to simply “be still” and stop battling the enemies that surround us and allow His promises to subdue our spirit knowing He’s sovereign and we’re protected by His strength.

The full promise of Psalms 46 is that the people of God are always secure no matter what environment they may be living in – war, turmoil, fear, hopelessness, doubt, etc. – God has secured the souls of believers through Jesus Christ. It’s our faith that requires us to stop fighting and start singing of the promise the Psalmist wrote for us over 3,000 yrs. ago.

Peace Prevails in the Power of God’s Promises.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

2Co 4:16-18  “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 

Don’t focus as much on where you’re at and the problems it presents.  Let God’s promises shine on your problems, knowing God will meet you where you’re at and take you where He wants you to go. 

Instead focus on the assurance (Heb 11:1) that our willingness to do God’s work, God’s way will never lack God’s promised supplies. “And If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, keep moving forward with the Lord.”

The journey isn’t always easy, but it can be joyful in the promise that Christ has already traveled it (Deut 31:8) and assures us it will be worthwhile when we arrive. But, it requires a faith that renews itself daily, starting afresh not relying as much on what God has done, but rather on what His promise provides for the morrow to those who stay in His will.

If you believe in a sovereign God who’s in control of everything, then it is up to you concerning what you let God control. That decision will determine the sum of your potential in the promises God has for your life.

The continuous effort in our faith – not strength or intelligence – is the key to God’s promises unfolding in our life.

HSAY… Todd