Tasty or Tasteless

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Ps 34:8). Throughout his life, David found that God, true to His Word, not only saves and keeps but also satisfies. Have you tasted and seen evidence of God’s goodness—do you know today that the Lord is good? Do you confidently trust Him? If something has happened or someone has negatively influenced you, causing your tastebuds to indicate otherwise, God’s love doesn’t change: He is love, loving us before we loved Him; loving us so much that He sent His only son to pay the penalty for our sins (1 John 4:8, 16, 19). Let us be so convinced of God’s goodness that even in the worst of times, we will put our trust in His grace and providence. When we do, blessings abound. 

Time to Wean

A newborn baby desires and must have milk, vital for growth and survival. But a growing child needs more than milk to satisfy hunger, and it's amusing to watch them get those first spoonsful of solid food. In the excitement of learning how to take in the food, their anxious tongues push it out as fast as it goes in but trust the feeder to scoop what they need back into their mouths. As they feast on what's good for them, they grow and soon learn to feed themselves.

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of The Word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Pet 2:2). Peter encourages those newly born again from above to lay aside their former dispositions and long for God's nutrition. Hebrew's writer defines this food as "the first principles of the oracles of God" (Heb 5:12). While new babes in Christ are responsible for ingesting needed food, more mature Christians should help feed them. No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, healthy, growing believers, having a taste for God's goodness, want and need more than just milk. We should continually seek to learn more of Jesus, our High Priest, and His priestly ministry in our lives—the meatier principles of God's Word. By faithfully hearing, believing, praying, and obedience, we will grow daily in the knowledge of our Lord and have our "senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:14).

Pages Worth Framing

If your life was a coloring book, how would it look? Do you thoughtfully or flippantly choose pages to color? Do you grab just any crayons and get to work or carefully select a color scheme? Are you a line-tracer to help stay within the lines, or can you skillfully honor the boundaries? Or, with other projects in mind, hastily finish the pages? God made us uniquely; we are a living book with a box of crayons and freedom of choice—the way we approach a task and bring it to completion will be different. But as Christians, we should make the most of every opportunity, doing our best as unto the Lord (Col 3:23) while we are physically and mentally able: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might . . ." (Ecc 9:10). Every day is a gift from God, who holds life and death. One day, we will die, and God will judge our works. What will He find in your life's pages? 

Designed on Purpose for Purpose

Gen 1:26, 27 "And God said, Let Us make man . . . So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." In the Book of Beginnings, we read that the Lord God made man for dominion over all His creation. He was pleased with His design, flourishing and ready to sustain life. But the man He created had no one of his kind, so He fashioned a woman for him from one of his ribs, one who would be his help. God put Adam and Eve in Eden's garden, walked and talked with them, and told them to be fruitful and multiply.

Adam's duty was to dress and keep the garden. It wasn't a challenging task with Eve alongside him since God watered it by a mist from the ground and the river that ran through it, and in God's paradise, there were no weeds or pests. But one day, they lingered near the only tree God forbade them to eat of, listened to, and yielded to the lying serpent. Because they disobeyed their Creator's one command, wanting more than what He provided and knew they needed, God drove them out of the garden, forbidding their return.

Adam and Eve began replenishing the earth, starting with two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer; Abel, a keeper of sheep, the family each doing what was needful in the world outside of paradise. We can busy ourselves with purpose but walking outside God's perfect design causes reactions our Creator never intended us to experience—shame, separation, suffering, pain, grief. The couple's lust for more led to banishment from God's presence; Cain killed Abel out of jealousy and forever bore the mark of God's disfavor. God planned your blueprint and mine for His purposes, and although life carries ups and downs that can shape us, altering His divine design for living never ends well. And though God offers love, mercy, forgiveness, and do-overs, consequences for disobedience don't disappear.

No Exemptions

Ps 56:3 "At what time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." Whether it was blinding fear, dodging King Saul's attempts to take his life, or a miscalculated turn, David fled right into the hands of the cruel Philistines. Had they forgotten what he did to their mighty warrior? They had not, so he turned to God, believing His promises, praying for and relying on His mercy. 

Even the most devoted believer, surrendered to the authority of the Lord Jesus, can have unsettling moments when life throws an unexpected curveball that knocks their spiritual footing. Whether the challenges you face are results of God's refining process, consequences of poor choices, or life's unfairness, when you find yourself surrounded by overwhelming circumstances, flee to your merciful Father. Pour out your heart to Him like David, trusting His providence and provisions, believing He is faithful to His Word. Because of Jesus, we find mercy, help, and peace at God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16).

Step by Step

Instead of asking God to bless what you're doing, bring Him glory and bless others by walking in what He has already blessed.

 

Play on Words

Your Achilles' tendon (the band of tissue connecting the lower leg back calf muscles to the heel bone) is unhappy if you have an aching or burning, sometimes lingering pain in the back of the heel that worsens after activity. A hurting foot can throw off the body's stance. Metaphorically speaking, you can suffer from this disorder without foot pain; it's a fault or weakness that causes or could cause you, someone else, or something to fall. Is someone or something your painful Achilles? Or are you causing someone pain, throwing them off balance? Heed God's warnings: The Lord detests devious people (Prov 3: 32) and holds those accountable who cause others to stumble (Matt 18:6). Whether suffering from an aggravated tendon, person, or situation, the Great Physician is the remedy for all life's pain. 

God's Spot

Ps 47:8 God reigns above the nations, sitting on His holy throne. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords and sits at the right hand of God's power (Luke 22:69). If Jesus isn't King of your "kingdom" and Lord of your life, you have taken the reigns of your life's direction—but you can never dethrone God. 

Tipping the Scales

Because another person's sin is different from yours doesn't make it greater or less than yours. Measuring the distance of missing God's perfection mark is useless: "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" (Isa 59:2). Sin is sin. God alone is the righteous Judge, holding the scales of justice in His hand, Jesus on one side and individuals on the other. The scale will never tip in our favor because all have sinned, falling short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Thank You, Father, that Jesus paid our sin debt, and You offer grace, forgiveness and salvation to all who say yes to Him.

Smiling Faces

Do you want to put a momentary smile on God’s face? Set your plans for today, tomorrow, or any day, without conferring with Him. I wonder if He says, “Really?” Carrying out agendas lacking God’s approval or thinking you can handle life without your Maker’s help also alerts your adversary, giving him a foothold for engagement in your affairs. We don’t know what today or tomorrow holds, but God does; His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. So, we should trust Him, approaching each day with “If the Lord wills, I will live, go here or there; do this or that.” Rejoicing and boasting about one’s self-sufficiency is wicked (James 4:15–16) and gives the enemy cause to smile. 

Flat on Your Face?

The Philistines took the Ark of God, putting it by their god Dagon, in Dagon’s temple, proving their gods were mightier by conquering Israel’s God. But the next day, they found their idol on the ground, face down before the Ark, and they set it back in place. The next day, they found it fallen again face down as before, but without its head and arms; only the stump was intact (1 Sam 5:2). God severely punished the Philistines for degrading His name until they brought the Ark back to its rightful place in Israel.

Do you have projects, ideas, people, or feel yourself “falling face down?” Attachments to and dependence on anyone or anything before your Creator is idolatry. Whatever we prioritize as more important than God is an idol we worship, and He will not be second to anything or anyone: “I am the Lord thy God; Thou shalt not have any other gods before Me” (Ex 20:2a, 3). Whether we have God first in our lives, He is the Almighty—He sits on His throne, but is He on your heart’s throne? Give Him His rightful first place in your life lest things or you fall, facing His discipline.

Messy Necessity

Gentle winds blow dead and dying leaves off trees; strong winds loosen pinecones, needles, rotted and broken branches, and they fall—leaving behind the debris. But the mess is needful for the good of the tree. Life’s winds will blow against you, some stronger than others, knocking loose what is dead and unuseful. As God sweeps through your walk with Him, don’t cleave to what must go—if you let anything dangle, it may fall and cause harm to you or others. Let Him have His way for your best: “Every branch that beareth not fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2)—the mess around you is a sign that new growth is on the horizon.   

Purposefully Sealed

Seals serve a purpose. The sender sends a letter, trusting the seal safeguards the contents until the receiver opens it. The unbroken seal on the stone blocking the lion’s den proved Daniel didn’t escape his unjust death sentence. God rescued him, the king released him, and he prospered through two kings’ reigns, telling God’s visions. The rock’s undisturbed seal covering the entrance of Jesus’ tomb is proof of the resurrection. Jesus’ life and death made way for our being right with God; His ascension made way for the Holy Spirit’s coming. God’s seal on every believer at the moment of salvation guarantees that those who receive TRUTH are His—sealed by the Holy Spirit to the day of redemption, pledging eternal life with Him (Eph 1:12–14). God purposely created us. How are you faring with your God-given purpose until you claim your heavenly inheritance? 

Yoke Up

What is it that clutters your thinking, leaving you antsy about matters of your life, family, or daily work? God says to throw off those circumstantial concerns, anxieties, and fear that keep you weighed down, weights that make moving forward a challenge: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Pet 5:7). 

Whether your burdens are a carryover from 2021 or new struggles of 2022, cast them off, but not to the ground. Jesus invites us to let Him help carry our workload and concerns—He cares about you and everything that affects you. Submit to Him; trust Him. He promises rest for your soul under His yoke. (Matt 11:28–30). Why keep heavy loads not meant for you to tackle alone? 

Sing Your Song

Believers have a new song to sing, a different tune than before meeting our Savior. But when singing from the heart doesn’t come, whether we “feel like it,” praise God for who He is: “O sing unto the Lord a new song, for He hath done marvelous things: His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory” (Psalm 98:1). God rescued us by “His right hand and holy arm”—Christ’s redeeming love. God sending His Son to pay our sin debt; Jesus Christ’s victory over death and Satan; God’s presence always with us; God is worthy of our singing His praises. His mercies are new every day—sing to Him.

Newborns

Peter tells us in his second epistle: “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus” (2 Pet 3:18). In the preceding verses, the apostle spoke of new believers being easy prey to false teachers and self-formed interpretations of Scripture which can effortlessly sway unestablished converts, turning them from God’s truth. Then he says, “But,” urging new babes in Christ to pursue spiritual growth from sound biblical teachings that ground us—knowing more of God and learning from His Word is our duty as believers until we see Jesus face-to-face. Peter explains when we diligently add to our faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, kindness, and love, we will not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord, nor will we stumble (1:3–10). They will establish and settle us by God’s grace. 

Smart Move

Outwit the opponents of your soul: “Thou, through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies, for they are ever with me” (Psalm 119:98). God’s instructions begin by hearing, reading, and meditating on His Word. God’s wisdom comes by surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, living out what you heard, read, and pondered. The lack thereof explains our world’s current condition.

Falling Goodness

An acorn falls from a tree and nourishes wildlife, grows a sapling, or stays where it fell and decays. Does what fall from your daily influence drop nourishment, encourage growth, lay useless, or worse, rot and cause harm? God’s prophet said the Lord told us what He requires of us: Do what’s right—love God with all your being, love others (even the unlovely), and yourself by keeping yourself in check. We are to be merciful, showing kindness and compassion even to the unkind, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). How can we do this? Acknowledge our pitiful state and the need to receive salvation by God’s Savior. When we obey the Lord, living rightly, what falls from our lives in 2022 will honor our Maker and bless others. 

Step Wisely

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Why stumble your way through the darkness when you can carry a lantern or flashlight? Valuable tools unless you neglect to light the lantern or put batteries in the flashlight and turn it on. God is faithful and unchanging. His Word is the lamp, illuminating the paths He prepared before time for you to walk (Eph 2:10). You will walk safely and confidently in His light and truth when you open, read, meditate on, receive and live out God’s Word, penned by men inspired by the Holy Spirit. Or leave The Book unopened, gathering dust and grope your way, stumbling along a dark, unguarded path. It seems like a “no brainer,” but many people settle for the latter. 

Blessed Fatness

“Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness, and Thy paths drop fatness” (Psalm 65:11).

God adorns each year with His goodness like a crown as it revolves through its seasons. Beauty and fruitfulness gently fall in abundance along His path, wherever He goes. His fatness—God’s blessings, fall; nature’s beauty and the earth’s fruit shout and sing of it; even the uncultivated wastelands don’t escape His goodness. How can any human not be grateful, thinking God isn’t good or doesn’t exist? As it falls on you, praise Him.

Look Forward

Last year’s chalk dust has settled. Regrets and fretting are useless; God wipes your slate clean with repentance. Keep your eyes on Him; no looking back unless recalling what He brought you from and how vast His mercies, forgiveness, and blessings have been. Paul focused on the awaiting prize—his Father, spending eternity in heaven, saying: “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. . .” (Phil 3:13). Encouraging us to do the same, he said to throw off everything that would hinder our pressing forward. Life’s race is on for 2022. Keep your eyes on The Prize; Jesus is waiting at the finish line.

Happy New Year; be a blessing!