I Kings 21; I Thessalonians 4; Daniel 4; Psalm 108, 109

Jesus Christ summed up the Ten Commandments in two statements, one of which is to love the Lord God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. The other is to love your neighbor as yourself. I wax and wane in my passion to love God even though I never want to leave His side. And I sometimes step back when loving my neighbor is at stake. That is, I have to take a time out to rethink my words, reframe my motivations, and reign in my emotions before asking questions, making and answering requests, or commenting on what others say and do. Years of not getting this right and experience in hurting others or causing chaos in my relationships has heightened my vigilance for preventing problematic encounters, yet nothing can stay my heart and my tongue like the chastisement of God.

As I read I Kings 21:5, 15, I recognized how Ahab was influenced by his wife. Specifically, I relate to my own behaviors that incited my husband to defend me in situations where I needed to humble myself, instead. Like Ahab, I displayed a sullen, pouty face about something that I could not have. In the Old Testament, Ahab’s wife Jezebel, asked, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat not your food?” She then orchestrated the murder of Naboth so that her husband could have Naboth’s vineyard. Like Ahab’s spouse, my husband sought solutions, and sometimes that meant compromising his own righteousness. And what did I do? I did just like Ahab: “So it was when Ahab heard Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” That is, I allowed my husband to do something that I would not, but then was happy to have what I should not.

Isn’t it interesting that in marriages, a spouse can either encourage and inspire or manipulate and blame.

In other situations, trying to love thy neighbor as thyself has left me confused and disappointed. I think I am in good company because even the saints cried out to God in similar situations: Psalm 109:4, 5 records these complaints, “In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer. Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for love.”

Yes, I pray, and yes, I want justice. Yet one meaning of justice is “a concern for justice, peace, and genuine respect for people,” (https://www.google.com/search). Do I want this just for me or do I love well enough to desire this for all others? I’m afraid my ill will too often highlights the sin of entitlement. Instead of agreeing that others deserve happiness, I speak this lie to myself; “I deserve an easier life.” Thus, what naturally pour out of my mouth are words of bitterness, jealousy, and anger. Like I said, experience has taught me this.

Walking with God, the Father, however, has taught me better truths. I now know that I despise inciting or attacking others worse than accepting being sad, frustrated, or afraid. I know that I can praise the Almighty, loving God who is able to confront or defend me, as He sees fit. Daniel 4:37 says, “I…praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” I do not have to play the Holy Spirit in another person’s life; my task is to love God with all my heart, my soul, and my mind; and to love my neighbor as myself.

Janet (jansuwilkinson)

All Scripture and commentary quotes from: The Nelson Study Bible, New King James Version, Trinity Fellowship Church 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, 2002.

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Micah 6, Micah 7, Acts 22

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8

 Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion; A man’s enemies are the men of his own household. Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me. Micah 5-7

 A great light from heaven shone around me. And heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’   Acts 22:6-8

Read at – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%206,7;%20Acts%2022&version=NKJV

 Micah 6          “the Lord … will contend” –  “O My people, what have I done to you?  And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.” – I redeemed you from the house of bondage; That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”

            Lord God, Maker of the Universe, You are SO Humble!! You are forever nominating Yourself, challenging us to turn to You, the One Who Loves us the Best. You are relentless to me and others, not to let us get more deceived, blind and side tracked away living an Eternal Life with You here and now. 1

The Lord’s voice cries, Hear the rod! Deceitful weights? Spoken lies, Therefore I will also make you sick, making you desolate because of your sins. You shall sow, but not reap.   Micah 6

             You go through greatest lengths to have me “come to my senses”. Lord Jesus, you don’t quit pursuing, even to bring me to the end of myself to realize You are already there waiting for my surrender with Your open arms!! Luke 15:11-32 

Micah 7          Woe is me!  The faithful man has perished from the earth, And there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; … successfully do evil with both hands— The prince asks for gifts, The judge seeks a bribe, And the great man utters his evil desire; So they scheme together. Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion; A man’s enemies are the men of his own household. 

              Lord, I am in great turmoil. The person I trusted is not trustworthy. The lies and deceit are severe. The effect on my trusting any person is great. Woe is me. My heart is undone. I cannot approach them because of their wrath and defensive posture for revenge. Only You are the God of my salvation in Whom I place my trust.

             Where am I to go when I am betrayed? To You, Lord Jesus Who Never betrays anyone. To my Damascus Road so many years ago and no farther. Great Joy bubbles up by Your Holy Spirit as I consider Your Love and Faithfulness, my LORD. You encountered me that day undeniably Lord Jesus! And You have continued to tangibly affect my life daily since. Oh, “The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy.” Psalm 111:7  2

             Father, Your Scriptures are True and Sound; The Sure Rock for my feet, my Reference Point for action, my sole/soul Foundation. “The entirety of Your word is truth”Psalm 119:160

             How may I serve one who lies to me? The one who is entrusted into my care, for me to love them in Truth? Lord Jesus, Your Word tells me what to do and how to do it. I will encase myself in Your heart and thoughts to shut out all else. I will love You above all, so that You can bless others without me being a people pleaser. 3 

Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me. Micah 7

Acts 22           Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid,

              Saul said, I “taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, …, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.. And when the blood of martyr Stephen was shed, I was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.” Acts 22  Saul was a Religious Terrorist, a hunter and murderer of people who followed Jesus Christ.  

            NO SIN, not murder, blasphemy, lying, cheating, adultery, beating, raping, stealing, mocking or worse IS BEYOND the Hope of the sin-removing Atonement Blood of Jesus Christ. No person is beyond the reach of Almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ.  The only person who can block God from forgiving AND removing sin and evil in my own heart and mind is me. The same is for true for you, dear Reader.  4

            If You can save me from the just eternal punishment that I deserve for offending You, Holy God, and also continue the Good work You began in me to bring to completion verse – and fulfill what You have planned for me from the beginning – Then, Lord God please do it for everyone who lies, deceives, and destroys. Dear Reader, please take the step of faith and hope needed for Your life to change and have purpose for eternity with the True Living God.  5

            May the one who betrayed me be renewed in mind and repent in their heart to You, my King. May they testify: When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord,  Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.  Micah 7

Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob And mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers From days of old. Micah 7

The painful effect of someone’s sin on me is Great, dear Father. I shelter myself in Your Truth and Promises!! Alert me to the pain which my sins cause other people, near and far, so I will not sin. Amen Psalm 51

Bible Insights –

1-  Genesis 1; Job 38-42; John 3:15-16; John 4:13-26; Matthew 19:29; John 10:28; John 17:3; Romans 6:23,

2- Psalm 41:9; John 13:21; Luke 22:47-48

3 – Matthew 10:32-39, John 15, Romans12:1-2, Colossians3:23-24  

4 – Isaiah 59:1; John 3:5-21; John 14:6; Matthew 12:15-21; Genesis 22:1-19; Exodus 12:1-30; John 1:29; John 3:15-16; Hebrews 9:11-28

5 – Revelation 21:8; Romans 1:18-2:16; Psalm 51; 1 Peter 1:23; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2:10; John 8:44; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 12:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:3-21; John 4:1-42; Matthew 4:19; John 15; Psalm 1

Crystal (PsalmThirty4) 

Psalm 1, Psalm 2, Psalm 10, Acts 16:22-40

There is no power like the POWER of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Word of God!

 Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the Lord…whatever he does shall prosper.    Psalm 1

 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, Psalm 2

 a great earthquake, foundations of the prison were shaken; “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” … immediately he and all his family were baptized. Acts 16

 Read at – www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%201,2,10;%20Acts%2016:22-40&version=NKJV

 Psalm 1         Blessed is the man …in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

               The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away, the way of the ungodly shall perish.

                The Word of God makes all the difference. Keep drinking from the springs of eternal life.   If I don’t I start groping for kool-aid, soda, and other placebo thirst quenchers whose sugar, carbonation, and food coloring thwart the effect of pure water and cause skin blemishes, caffeine effects, etc.

              Lord Jesus, You love me soooo thoroughly through Your Word, I keep coming back for gulps, drinking deeply Your Word. Lord, You have made me aware of many people who do not know You, and so they do not trust You nor live in You and Your Word. Please touch them in all the ways that only You can do. 1

Psalm 2         Why do … the people plot a vain thing? The rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, The Lord shall speak to them in His wrath, (So, instead) Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

              This sounds like a local and world news report. There is no difference between yesterday and today. Man’s nature and God never change. But individuals can change through One Way. The Son of God can set each person free! Jesus, please draw people to Yourself to submit to Your Lordship, rushing for shelter by confessing and repenting and thereby free themselves from death to life. 2

              Lord Jesus, help me to keep Your Word ever in the forefront of my eyes, my mind, and my heart. How futile it is, and how harmful to me, to turn away from You, the Beloved Lord of lords. Because the pain of being aside from You hurts more deeply and sharply than ever before, You’ve trained me to keep short accounts – so my repentances are quick U-turns back to You. Oh how sweet! Thank You Jesus! Please help me bear fruit in keeping with repentance!

Psalm 10       The wicked in his pride persecutes; For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He renounces the Lord, does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.” But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand.

            The Lord is King forever and ever;  Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

              More current newspaper information! Yet, How reassuring Your Actions are to me, my God! What a safety and security You are to me! By Your righteous right hand, display Your glory that the wicked would fear You and turn and be saved from eternity in hell! 3

Acts 16:22-40              They threw them into prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. (While) praying and singing hymns to God, there was a great earthquake, and everyone’s chains were loosed.  And the keeper, said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And immediately he and all his family were baptized, and he rejoiced.

            How big is my God? How much to I Look at Him? Praying and singing hymns while “trapped” in circumstances and situations? Do I remember the “earthquake” when Jesus rescued my soul from hell? The other earthquakes that changed my perspective, relationships and many aspects of my life irrevocably? How about you, dear reader?

                Lord Jesus, I rejoice in Your many miracles daily, when I do not deny You, but proclaim You in my spirit and with my body! How boring life is without You at the helm! Thank You Jesus for claiming me and having me cling to You right back!!

Bible Insights –

1 –  John 6:63; John 6:68; John 5:24; Psalm 37:4; John 4:13-14; John 7:38; Matthew 10:28; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19 

2 –  Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; John 14:6; John 8:36; Psalm 7:1, James 4:8; Romans 8:13; Romans 5:21; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:15; Luke 15:10; Luke 3:8 

3 – Jeremiah 17:9; Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 18:32

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)