DELIGHTFUL!
Today’s Reading: Psalms 119:129-176
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
THE BIBLE! Here’s Reynold’s Bible on a Roman road in Tarsus. Saul of Tarsus became known as the Apostle Paul. Paul was a true scholar educated in the Roman/Greek university city of Tarsus and then sent to Jerusalem, where he studied the Hebrew Scriptures under Gamaliel, the most renowned Bible teacher of his time. Paul probably knew Psalm 119 by heart. He wrote to a young man named Timothy these words, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:15,16).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 119:130, 174
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
…I long for Your salvation O Lord,
And Your law is my delight.
We have every reason to be full of delight! (of “the light”). Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). Psalm 119 shines “understanding” into us! We understand that the “Words” which we read in the Bible express the thoughts of God. Paul writes, “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16b). Peter, a follower of Jesus, needed the light of the understanding of God’s thoughts (God’s Words express His thoughts) when he actually contradicted Jesus because Jesus began to speak of His own death and resurrection. Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan, you are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:21-23). In other words, Satan was darkening Peter’s mind so that Peter’s thoughts, which he expressed, were not God’s thoughts, but thoughts from Peter’s own mind. The way to get God’s thoughts to be our thoughts is to read constantly God’s Words. In this way we make God’s thoughts the essential DNA of our very being. According to Psalm 119, God’s thoughts are “GOOD,” “RIGHT,” “PERFECTION,” “SWEET,” “WONDERFUL,” “RIGHTEOUS,” “UPRIGHT,” “FAITHFUL,” “TRUTH,” “EVERLASTING,” and our experience proves that God’s Words are a “DELIGHT!!!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I thank You that “The entrance of Your Words gives light” to me. I pray that the “Light of the world,” Jesus, the Messiah, will be my 24/7 Light, so that I will never stumble around in the dark. When I meet others, may I be conscious that there’s a light on the inside of me, and may the light shine brightly through me on my path and on the path of others. I ask this blessing in the Name of Jesus, the “Living Word,” the One who is the full Expression of Your thoughts to the human family. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
During my first year of intensive study of God’s Word in Bible College, someone (I don’t remember who) said something about the reading of the Bible that I have never forgotten. Here it is, “Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Scriptures.” The year after that I applied that knowledge in pioneering a new congregation in the Chalk River/Deep River area of Ontario. Yes, I went back to school for more years of study after that year off, but during that year of preaching and teaching God’s Word, I learned so much, perhaps more than I learned sitting in the lecture hall. That year, I also filled in as the Principal of the local public school. The regular Principal was off for health reasons. The government of Ontario Department of Education required us, as teachers, to teach the Bible to our students. The Department published a Bible study guide for us to follow. Just imagine trying to do this in a public school today! A while ago I drove around what was called a “Middle School.” I couldn’t believe my eyes! There was a high iron fence around the entire school with steel bars to protect the students from a possible violent assault. I was filled with such sadness. Our public schools in Canada and the U.S.A. have put the Bible and prayer out and the iron bars are in. There’s a security guard and a metal detector inside the one small entrance through the bars through which the students, teachers, and parents must pass.
Yours with delight in God’s Word, and with tears because of the foolishness of courts, governments and school boards in turning out the Light of God’s Word, thus inviting the darkness into the public schools. May God have mercy on us and on our children,
David
P.S. Which will it be in the local schools near us over the next few years, BIBLES or BARS!! Here’s that school building I mentioned above.
The iron fence at the Middle School (junior high) in Florida.
I will be sure to thank David for his teaching and guidance when we meet.One consolation is that conditions must get even worse before Christ’s return and ,like D Day in WWII,that time must be kept secret.We still must pray for a great revival everywhere.Yall be blessed
I hope you don’t mind if I post what I think is a most relevant article from Billy Graham, all about not just the problems brought about by turning away from God, but also solutions.
https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/october-2019/billy-graham-return-to-the-bible/
If you cut and paste this into your search bar, you’ll find the article.
Father, thank You for your Word and for your church, the people who follow You. Bless and strengthen each one, and may each be an instrument of righteousness in your hand. Bring many more to You every day until Jesus returns. In Jesus’s holy name, amen
Amen
This is the day we are to pray for the persecuted church & those who have suffered and died for their faith. We are to identify with them as if we are one of them. Father, in Jesus Name, I ask that You be their Shield – their Hiding Place under Your wings. May persecutors have their eyes opened to the Truth and their unbelieving hearts and minds given understanding. Amen
Amen Doreen, we had prayer for the persecuted church in our service this morning. I am so grateful we don’t have that problem here, we still have the freedom to Worship our Heavenly Father. I am very sad for those that are suffering for the safe of Christ.
Eleanor M.
My words seem so inadequate for such a travesty.
Sorry the name of Christ!!
Sorry I meant for the sake of Christ.
Amen Doreen! I agree with you in prayer for these dear souls around the world. Watched Living Truth documentary on the Venezuelan refugees coming across the border to Columbia and their plight. Am saddened as David was about the plight of our schools today without the Bible yet I taught Bible in Kenya in the school albeit it was not the pure Word of God but a mix of Bible and African traditional religions. However, they had two services in this boarding school on Sunday and prayer meetings during the week. Like what you said Beverlee about early morning prayer. God bless saints!
Praying for Ann Mainse. Lord God, heal her infection, fever, and bring strength to her aching body. We need Your healing touch, dear God and we ask You to hold our sister-in-Christ, Ann, dearly in Your loving Hands. Ruach breath of life blow through her and grant her rest and peace. In Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen, amen, and amen.
Yes, Beverlee, I agree with your prayer for total healing for Ann Mainse, Amen, Thank You Jesus, Amen!!
Thinking about Ann these days as well as Beatriz who has inoperable stomach & bone cancer – radiation & chemo. Pain is also significant. These are two lovely Christian ladies. Father, in Jesus Name, may Your hand be mightily upon them. Amen
Amen. Beverlee and Doreen, agreeing in prayer with both of these requests.
Prayed David’s prayer; how appropriate is the photo of Reynold’s bible in the photo: the words of scripture affirm this. These two stood out for me “119;165: Great peace have those who love your L:aw: And nothing shall offend them.”
and 2Tim 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished in all good works”
The message at our today in our church on “what is truth; The Living truth: “Stand on truth; Live in Love”
Have a peaceful evening you saints; I agree with your prayers
Sorry: I meant to say: The message at church today was “What is Truth? The Living Truth; Stand on Truth; Live in Love”