No matter how much the wicked attack, I refuse, O Lord, to be defeated. You free me from plowers on my back who make their furrows long and deep and painful. Repulse them, shame them, wither them under your powerful gaze. Let blessing pass them by, for they oppose your will and seek to harm your cause. Let all your people sing and praise your powerful name. With you is victory, with you is justice, with you are righteous deeds and eternal life.
Lessons behind Ezra’s decision
Ezra 7.10
- You cannot teach what you do not know and live. It must start with me. God can powerfully use one who is decided and committed. He looks for dedicated people for critical times. (All times are critical!)
- Lasting change comes from the word of God. The power to transform is in the Sacred Letters. After the exile, they turned to the written word. After Jesus, we turn to the New Testament.
- The Lord blesses those who commit themselves to his word, v. 9. (NLT on v. 10: “This was because …”) God makes it all happen. He opens the doors.
- Ezra’s studies and activities “reveal his commitment to purity of worship” (P.R. House, OTT) and to purity of the nation as God’s people (chap. 9). May our agenda include such purity!
When Men Believe
The world’s in flux, and populations move,
People are up in arms, the nations rant,
With wealth comes discontent, diminished love —
The earth is full of God, but still men want.
The skies grow dark, the snowy mountains heave,
The planets hang suspended, stars wink out,
The sun conceals its face, and men believe
When Christ appears — before him flees all doubt.
We see, O God, of all these things the end,
Travail and pain, the anguished groanings stop,
All silence reigns, murmurings and moans suspend —
Preserve us, Lord, as we to eternity step.
One thing you lack
By Ralph Price, Streetsboro OH congregation
Text: Mark 10:17-22.
Delivered on: April 24, 2016. Streetsboro. Continue reading “One thing you lack”
Christ’s suffering calls for the Christian to serve
By Ron Thomas, Highway congregation, Sullivan IL
1 Peter 4:1-11
- The COMMANDER of our Army (4:1)
- The CONVICTION with which He lived and we are to Live (4:1-2)
- The CORRUPTION of this World (4:2-3)
- The CULTURAL CONFORMITY demands Separation (4:4-5)
- Those who COUNTED the COST (4:6)
- Those who are COMMITTED to Serve (4:7-11)
Spiritual unity in 3-D
Ephesians 4.1-13
Introduction
- A friend once said that in order to have unity we may have to fight a lot. By that he meant we must work hard for it.
- Unity comes from the cross of Christ, Eph 2.11-22.
- Christ blessed the peacemakers, because he was the first and greatest of them, Mt 5.9.
- Some movies offer a 3-D experience. Unity in Christ also comes in 3-D:
Another Journey
We rise again, O Lord, to face
Another journey, another step,
Another day of friendly grace,
For waking joys till now asleep.
Our thanks, O God, for daily bread
And strength, for wisdom’s gentle light,
Midst trial and pain, for faithful aid
Upon the tempter’s fiery height.
My Savior, show me open doors
For Jesus Christ — let me not fear
To bravely leave the safer shores,
But dare, beyond horizons, steer.
Justin Imel on prayer
Justin shares a good deal on his blog about prayer, especially, for and by the disabled. His posts on the subject are worthy of careful reflection. Check out his prayer category here.
Received
What gifts received, the wealth of heaven
poured down! — and not for us alone,
but service in the Cross’s shadow.
What work received, to enter the Lord’s
eternal mission! — a world awaits
to hear the news of God’s salvation.
What Spirit received, for God himself
to abide in every heart! — Come, O Lord
in mine, prepare me and be present.
Show Me Grace at Work
Show me grace at work in generous saints,
Whose joy exceeds afflictions most severe,
Who serve like Christ their Lord, with no complaints,
Giving beyond their means, no future fear.
Show me Jesus’ grace, becoming poor,
Immeasurably rich, for our own souls to save,
To open to us the wealth of heaven’s door —
Eternal life and light beyond the grave.
Show me powerful grace for every need,
For good and blessed works in hidden ways,
Producing righteous fruit from heavenly seed,
That may increase to God man’s thanks and praise.
2 Corinthians 8-9