Cause You Really Can't Take It With You...

Three of the best Psalms to read to renew your mind and aright your thinking as wickedness seems to increase all around you.

Psalm 37 - Why do the ungodly prosper while the godly painfully struggle through life?

Psalm 49 deals with the most real and certain thing about life—DEATH....cause you really can’t take it with you. 

Psalm 73 This psalm shows us what happens when we focus on the people and the evil surrounding us...instead of the sovereign, holy God above.    (We become and envious and filled with self pity) 

The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 37

1 Do not fret because of evildoers,

​​Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

2 ​​For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,

​​And wither as the green herb.

​

3 ​​Trust in the LORD, and do good;

​​Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 ​​Delight yourself also in the LORD,

​​And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

​

5 ​​Commit your way to the LORD,

​​Trust also in Him,

​​And He shall bring it to pass.

6 ​​He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

​​And your justice as the noonday.

​

7 ​​Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;

​​Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

​​Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

8 ​​Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;

​​Do not fret—it only causes harm.

​

9 ​​For evildoers shall be cut off;

​​But those who wait on the LORD,

​​They shall inherit the earth.

10 ​​For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;

​​Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,

​​But it shall be no more.

11 ​​But the meek shall inherit the earth,

​​And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

​

12 ​​The wicked plots against the just,

​​And gnashes at him with his teeth.

13 ​​The Lord laughs at him,

​​For He sees that his day is coming.

14 ​​The wicked have drawn the sword

​​And have bent their bow,

​​To cast down the poor and needy,

​​To slay those who are of upright conduct.

15 ​​Their sword shall enter their own heart,

​​And their bows shall be broken.

​

16 ​​A little that a righteous man has

​​Is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 ​​For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,

​​But the LORD upholds the righteous.

​

18 ​​The LORD knows the days of the upright,

​​And their inheritance shall be forever.

19 ​​They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,

​​And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 ​​But the wicked shall perish;

​​And the enemies of the LORD,

​​Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.

​​Into smoke they shall vanish away.

​

21 ​​The wicked borrows and does not repay,

​​But the righteous shows mercy and gives.

22 ​​For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,

​​But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

​

23 ​​The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,

​​And He delights in his way.

24 ​​Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;

​​For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

​

25 ​​I have been young, and now am old;

​​Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

​​Nor his descendants begging bread.

26 ​​He is ever merciful, and lends;

​​And his descendants are blessed.

​

27 ​​Depart from evil, and do good;

​​And dwell forevermore.

28 ​​For the LORD loves justice,

​​And does not forsake His saints;

​​They are preserved forever,

​​But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 ​​The righteous shall inherit the land,

​​And dwell in it forever.

​

30 ​​The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,

​​And his tongue talks of justice.

31 ​​The law of his God is in his heart;

​​None of his steps shall slide.

​

32 ​​The wicked watches the righteous,

​​And seeks to slay him.

33 ​​The LORD will not leave him in his hand,

​​Nor condemn him when he is judged.

​

34 ​​Wait on the LORD,

​​And keep His way,

​​And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;

​​When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

35 ​​I have seen the wicked in great power,

​​And spreading himself like a native green tree.

36 ​​Yet he passed away, [fn1] and behold, he was no more;

​​Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

​

37 ​​Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;

​​For the future of that man is peace.

38 ​​But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;

​​The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

​

39 ​​But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;

​​He is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 ​​And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;

​​He shall deliver them from the wicked,

​​And save them,

​​Because they trust in Him.

The Confidence of the Foolish

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Psalm 49

1 Hear this, all peoples;

​​Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2 ​​Both low and high,

​​Rich and poor together.

3 ​​My mouth shall speak wisdom,

​​And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

4 ​​I will incline my ear to a proverb;

​​I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.

​

5 ​​Why should I fear in the days of evil,

​​When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6 ​​Those who trust in their wealth

​​And boast in the multitude of their riches,

7 ​​None of them can by any means redeem his brother,

​​Nor give to God a ransom for him—

8 ​​For the redemption of their souls is costly,

​​And it shall cease forever—

9 ​​That he should continue to live eternally,

​​And not see the Pit.

​

10 ​​For he sees wise men die;

​​Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,

​​And leave their wealth to others.

11 ​​Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, [fn1]

​​Their dwelling places to all generations;

​​They call their lands after their own names.

12 ​​Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; [fn2]

​​He is like the beasts that perish.

​

13 ​​This is the way of those who are foolish,

​​And of their posterity who approve their sayings.Selah

14 ​​Like sheep they are laid in the grave;

​​Death shall feed on them;

​​The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;

​​And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

15 ​​But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,

​​For He shall receive me.Selah

​

16 ​​Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,

​​When the glory of his house is increased;

17 ​​For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;

​​His glory shall not descend after him.

18 ​​Though while he lives he blesses himself

​​(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

19 ​​He shall go to the generation of his fathers;

​​They shall never see light.

20 ​​A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,

​​Is like the beasts that perish.

The Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God

A Psalm of Asaph.

Psalm 73

1 Truly God is good to Israel,

​​To such as are pure in heart.

2 ​​But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

​​My steps had nearly slipped.

3 ​​For I was envious of the boastful,

​​When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

​

4 ​​For there are no pangs in their death,

​​But their strength is firm.

5 ​​They are not in trouble as other men,

​​Nor are they plagued like other men.

6 ​​Therefore pride serves as their necklace;

​​Violence covers them like a garment.

7 ​​Their eyes bulge [fn1] with abundance;

​​They have more than heart could wish.

8 ​​They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;

​​They speak loftily.

9 ​​They set their mouth against the heavens,

​​And their tongue walks through the earth.

​

10 ​​Therefore his people return here,

​​And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

11 ​​And they say, “How does God know?

​​And is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12 ​​Behold, these are the ungodly,

​​Who are always at ease;

​​They increase in riches.

13 ​​Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,

​​And washed my hands in innocence.

14 ​​For all day long I have been plagued,

​​And chastened every morning.

​

15 ​​If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

​​Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16 ​​When I thought how to understand this,

​​It was too painful for me—

17 ​​Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

​​Then I understood their end.

​

18 ​​Surely You set them in slippery places;

​​You cast them down to destruction.

19 ​​Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!

​​They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 ​​As a dream when one awakes,

​​So, Lord, when You awake,

​​You shall despise their image.

​

21 ​​Thus my heart was grieved,

​​And I was vexed in my mind.

22 ​​I was so foolish and ignorant;

​​I was like a beast before You.

23 ​​Nevertheless I am continually with You;

​​You hold me by my right hand.

24 ​​You will guide me with Your counsel,

​​And afterward receive me to glory.

​

25 ​​Whom have I in heaven but You?

​​And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

26 ​​My flesh and my heart fail;

​​But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

​

27 ​​For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;

​​You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.

28 ​​But it is good for me to draw near to God;

​​I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,

​​That I may declare all Your works.

Without the Camp...

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp. --Hebrews 13:13

By Spurgeon

Jesus, bearing his cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. 

The Christian's reason for leaving the camp of the world's sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was "not of the world:" his life and his testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in him; but still he was separate from sinners. 

In like manner Christ's people must "go forth unto him." They must take their position "without the camp," as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and his truth next, and Christ and his truth beyond all the world. 

Jesus would have his people "go forth without the camp" for their own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ "without the camp." The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment's shame will be well recompensed by eternal honour; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are "forever with the Lord."

Comfort and Exhortation...

1 Thessalonians 5 - For comfort, exhortation and hope...

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Brethren, pray for us.

Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

HIs Presence Goes With Me...

Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’  Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”--Exodus 33:12-17

Reading through Exodus 33:12-17 again this morning and praying it fervently for myself as well as for the people whom I love.  

Father, 

I am Your beloved daughter and by Your matchless grace have found grace in Your sight!!  I have been chosen in You before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before You.  I want to know You more!!  Please show me now Your ways  and teach me Your paths so that others would see the evidence of Your grace displayed in my life and desire Your Presence, also. 

In my flesh I can do nothing good.   Without Your Spirit I am helpless and hopeless!! You provide me with wisdom and guide me continually. You have prepared works for me to walk in.  You deal with my enemies round about me...I am never ashamed because You are my Father who fights for me and never turns me away!  I want my life to be an expression of my utter gratitude for what You and You alone have accomplished.   I want to live always to the praise of Your glory!  This cannot happen unless Your Presence goes with me for I am like a child before You.  I do not know how to come in or go out.  

Lift up the light of Your countenance upon me, Father, and give me peace.  You are the glory of my strength and in Your favor I am exalted. The Holy One of Israel is my King, my strength and my shield...He hears the  voice of my supplications.  My heart trusts in You and I am helped.  Therefore, I greatly rejoice and with my song I praise You!  Let me never glory in anything or anyone but You, Lord.  May I live, Father, in utter dependence on You and may it be to the praise of Your glory!

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, "He who glories, let Him glory in the Lord."--1 Corinthians 1:30-31

The Earth is the Lord's

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.--Psalm 24:1


In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.--Genesis 1:1

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.  Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.  Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.--Genesis 1:26-31

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.--John 1:1-5

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.--John 1:14

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. --John 1:17

The Title Deed to the Earth belongs to Jesus Christ...

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”--Revelation 5:5

Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”--Revelation 5:7-10

He Answered Nothing...

Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.--Matthew 27:11b-13 (emphasis mine)

He answered nothing.  Jesus held His peace.  What a wondrous example of wisdom...SILENCE.  

But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;
And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
¹⁴ Thus I am like a man who does not hear,
And in whose mouth is no response.

For in You, O Lord, I hope;

You will hear, O Lord my God.--Psalm 38:13-14

You, my Jesus, was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, You opened not Your mouth.  You faced so much unjust suffering and were accused of so many things and answered them nothing!  You knew they could have no power against You unless it had been given to them by Your Father in heaven.  Your surrendered completely to His will for the joy that was set before You and endured the cross...You died because You had set Your love upon ME!! before the foundation of the world!! You desired me and chose me as Your peculiar treasure to be with You always and forever...AND YOUR CHOOSING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME BUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR MERCY, LOVE AND COMPASSION.  

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: --1 John 3:1a

It is written in Your word that no Man spoke as You spoke, but silence was Your answer to Your accusers and Your to Your persecutors.  You bore it all, speechless and said not a word in Your defense...not a word to stop Your slaughter. You were the perfect self-sacrifice. You, who knew no sin, bore our sins for us and took the punishment we so rightly deserved!  Our sin is defenseless.  Nothing can be said in excuse of human guilt and no one can save us but our God and it was to Him that You committed Yourself!  Such a beautiful and perfect example You left for us in the face of suffering.  Silence is so very often the perfect response to an opposing world.  Quiet endurance answers so many questions so much better than words often can.  Thinking on the martyrs who spoke volumes as they gave up their lives for what they believed.  How utterly awesome, Father that in Your Son's silence He proved conclusively that He was the true Lamb of God by fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy!

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.--Isaiah 53:7

Oh Father, may silence be my wisdom as I face an opposing world who hated You without a cause and because I follow You, will hate me, also. 

May I consider my Jesus, who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself and may this keep me from becoming weary and discouraged in my soul knowing that I have not yet resisted to bloodshed striving against sin.

May I do as Your precious Son did in the face of persecution and oppression:

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;--1 Peter 2:21-23

When I suffer according to Your will, Father, I pray that I do not take offense; but instead commit my soul to You in doing good...You are my faithful Creator. You have seen and observed both my trouble and my grief and will repay it by Your hand.  The helpless commits himself to You...Into Your hand, then,  I commit my spirit.  You have redeemed me.  You have abolished death and brought immortality to light through the Gospel.  May I live for You unashamed for I know whom I have believed and like Paul am confident that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.  May my last words be as my Jesus:

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.--Luke 23:46