God's Marvelous Plan

                                                        GOD’S MARVELOUS PLAN

            You may have noticed this familiar scripture on a traditional Christian Wedding Card invitation. Psalm 118 23, “This the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” When God brings a man and woman together in marriage, we will rejoice with the bridal couple and celebrate.

            But there is something even more marvelous to behold and rejoice: When God reconciles his enemies to Himself. Or when He brings his estranged sons and daughters home. There will be great rejoicing in heaven when one sinner turns his life to God. It is beautiful to see Jews and Gentiles living in one BIG family of God and sharing everything in common.

            For several weeks now, we have been working through the letter of Paul to the Church in Ephesus. We learned three critical definitions of Church: God’s Family, God’s house, and His dwelling place. Chapter three begins with the unfolding of God’s Marvelous plan. Ephesians 3:1-13. We will break it into three sections. Firstly, what is God’s marvelous plan for the Gentiles? Secondly, What does God’s plan entail? Thirdly, who would carry out God’s plan today in this world?

I. God’s marvelous plan for the Gentiles.

            Vs. 1-3, “For this reason, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.”

            Who were the Gentiles that Paul was referring to? The Word Gentile is an English translation of the Hebrew Word goyim (“people, nations”) and the Greek Word ethne (“nations, people groups, people”). Those words are translated in English as “Gentile.” The term refers to a person who is not a Jew. From the Jewish perspective, Gentiles were often seen as pagans who did not know the true God. Many Jews took such pride in their heritage that they considered Gentiles “unclean.” The half-Gentile Samaritans were viewed as enemies to be shunned.

            To bring to our context, one who is not a Jew is a Gentile, which puts all of us and the rest of the non-Jewish world in that category. The third chapter begins with Paul saying he became a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Gentiles to reveal to them the mystery of God’s plan. He says he wrote them earlier but didn’t explain here what the plan was.

            Ephesians 1:11-12 unfolds a part of God’s marvelous plan, “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands), remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

            These verses talked about you and me, who were once lost without hope and God in this world. We were separated from Christ and excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise. But thank God, because of his marvelous plan through Christ, we found hope and became part of God’s one BIG family, along with the Jews.

            God’s marvelous plan for Jews, Gentiles, and the whole world is that, through His Son Jesus Christ, He would reconcile them back to Himself. That was what Jesus came to offer: salvation first to the Jews and the Gentiles. That was what was predicted by Isaiah a long time ago. Isaiah 42:1, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.”

            The Good News is that Christ came to seek and save sinners and reconcile all people to God. Paul became a prisoner of Christ to take that message of reconciliation and redemption to mostly Gentiles. He took that responsibility very seriously, for which He was beaten, stoned to the point of death, endured hardships, and misunderstood to save a few Jews and Gentiles.

II. What does God’s marvelous plan entail?

            Vs. 6, “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” God’s plan entails that both Gentiles and Jews who believe in the Good News share equally the inheritance. Both are part of one body and enjoy the promise of blessings in Christ Jesus.

            We equally share the inheritance with Israel, but that doesn’t mean we share their land. Generally, this inheritance refers to salvation. Earlier, Paul talked about it in Ephesians 4:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of his glory.”

            All believers are part of one body, God’s family or household. This talks about belonging. No believer is alone by themselves. They belong to God and one another; that is how we grow together. God’s plan also entails sharing God’s promises in Jesus Christ together. To understand how to share God’s promises with Israel, go back to Abraham’s call in Genesis 12:1-3

            “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This call included a promise and a responsibility. The blessing to Abraham and his descendants was not for their sake only.

            It was intended ultimately to bring redemption to the whole world. Prophet Isaiah reminds Israel of God’s promise and their responsibility. Isaiah 42:6, “I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” What is our responsibility if we are joint heirs with Israel, belong to one big family, and share the promises in Christ?

III. Who will carry out God’s marvelous plan today?  

              Vs. 10-12, “His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

            Not all descendants of Abraham, but many have failed to be a blessing. Many more have failed to be a light to the Gentiles. Many have rejected the great light that came into the world. But those who believed in the Word that became flesh have become the children of God. One of God’s children was Paul, who persecuted the Church earlier.

            But when Christ changed his life, he became the servant of God’s marvelous plan of redemption. Now, that plan is to be carried out by the Church. God wants none to perish but everyone to come to repentance. (II Pet 3:9) The scripture says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. Through the Church, that is you and me, God wants to save the world. Think of how you and I have been blessed as we surrendered our lives to God.

            God saved us by His grace and gave us the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God has blessed us with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22), Not to mention all the material blessings. As much as we enjoy these blessings, let us also share with others by sharing the Good News of the gospel.            Be generous toward the poor. Welcome the immigrants and foreigners whom God might bring to our country so they might come to know Jesus as their savior. (Acts 17:26-28). Love those who hate us. Be kind towards those who are hurting. Let us do all the good we can to as many people as possible and as long as possible and pray for the salvation of all people. 

 

           

 

 

 

 

Rewards of Seeking God

                                                     REWARDS OF SEEKING GOD

I Kings 10:1-13

Introduction: After a preacher died and went to heaven, he noticed that a Boston cab driver had been given a higher place than he had. “I don’t understand,” he complained to St. Peter. “I devoted my entire life to my congregation.” “Our policy is to reward results,” explained St. Peter. “Now, what happened, Reverend, whenever you gave a sermon?” The minister admitted that some in the congregation fell asleep. “Exactly,” said St. Peter. “And when people rode in this man’s taxi, they not only stayed awake, they prayed.”

            We all like rewards, don’t we? These days, we give away rewards so quickly, just for everyday things that are expected of anyone; for example, teachers reward students for just attending school, and parents reward their children for brushing their teeth and keeping their room clean. Churches give away Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts gift cards for newcomers just for showing up at church. Do they need to be rewarded for what is expected of them?  

            We can argue about the pros and cons of reward-based parenting, teaching, and the whole system. But you will be pleased to know that it is God’s perfect plan and will to reward those who faithfully trust and obey Him. And it is not unspiritual to expect and anticipate those rewards if we do so in a spirit of humility and gratitude.

            In the past two weeks, we learned about delighting in God’s Word and that the Church is God’s dwelling Place. Today, we will know about how God will reward a soul that seeks after Him. The best part is that we can already enjoy some of those rewards here and now. We will look at how an Ethiopian Queen was richly rewarded when she sought after the most esteemed King in the Old Testament and how Jesus lifted her out in the NT as an example for us to follow. Rewards Of Seeking God. I Kings 10:1-13

 

Background to the story:  It was a crucial time in the history of Israel. The Kingdom was handed over to Solomon after the death of his father, David, Israel’s most beloved King.  Solomon builds and dedicates the temple to God to fulfill his father’s desire.

            The fame and splendor of Solomon spread far and wide as far as the land of Sheba, which was 1500 miles away from Jerusalem. We read in Verse 1, “When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard (difficult) questions.” Solomon’s fame was tied to his seeking God, which drew the attention of the Queen. We see three principles in this story that would help us seek God.

 

I. Finding the truth is costly  (Vs. 1-3)

            When the Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s fame and relationship with the Lord, she was intrigued by that fascinating story but did not believe it immediately. She did not stop at simply saying what an incredible story it was. She wanted to find out for herself how credible that report was. She desired to meet the person in the story personally.

            Hence, she undertook a nearly 1500-mile journey from Ethiopia to Jerusalem. To give you an idea of what a trip of that nature entailed in ancient times: “She had to cross the desert sands of Arabia, and travel along the coast of the Red Sea, up into Moab, and over the Jordan River to Jerusalem. Such a journey required at least six months since camels could rarely travel more than 20 miles daily.”[1] 

 

 

            She took all the trouble, why? Because she wanted to know the truth. When she finally arrived in Jerusalem and met King Solomon, she poured everything in her heart out and asked Solomon difficult questions. She had an insatiable desire to know the truth and was willing to go through any hardship to find out. How did she respond when she saw Solomon?

II. There is an answer to every difficult question (Vs.3)

            The Queen of Sheba had some tough questions for King Solomon. One commentator says, “Riddles are designed to stump the hearer.” It is like our news anchors asking politicians “gotcha questions.” For King Solomon, it was not an issue. In Vs. 3, we read, “Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.”

            What was her reaction when she perceived Solomon’s wisdom, the house he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, and the lavish burnt offering Solomon offered God?

            In NIV, it reads, “She was overwhelmed” in NASB, “there was no more spirit in her” in ESV, and “no more breath in her, literally, the experience left her breathless.” Did Queen Sheba get what she has bargained for? More than that, she had a life-changing experience in the presence of the wise King Solomon. In Vs. 5, “She said to the King, it’s all true!

            Your reputation, accomplishments, and wisdom that reached my country are confirmed. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself; they didn’t exaggerate! Such wisdom and elegance far more than I could ever have imagined.” (The Message)

            Let me put this into our context. What we hear about God being preached through evangelists, pastors, and bible teachers is true. But no matter how eloquently and scholarly they may explain God, his nature, and purpose to us, it is only half of the actual reality of God.

            There is so much we don’t know about our God. The little we understand of Him is enough to take our breath away. As it is written in I Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully even as I am fully known. We are in for a grander surprise when we see Jesus face-to-face. When we are willing to pay the price by coming into God’s presence, God will reward us.

III. Rewards of Seeking God

            The Queen of Sheba came to test Solomon and bless him with exotic gifts. She gave him nearly five tons of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. The sandalwood she brought was used to make railings for the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. You can imagine the fragrance that filled God’s temple and the royal palace. Whenever people visited them, they might have inhaled the aroma of sandalwood and remembered the Queen.

            King Solomon gave the Queen all she “desired and asked for” besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty.” The Queen of Sheba returned to her country with her entourage, having been fully satisfied by seeing the King. Let’s draw a few parallels from this story:           Solomon is like God in his wisdom, riches, splendor, and generosity. Queen of Sheba is like a thirsty and seeking soul who is not satisfied with a second-hand revelation of God but wants to experience the fullness of God. During his earthly ministry, at one point, to a demanding crowd who wanted to see a sign from heaven before they might believe, he said this, “The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matt 12:42).

 

            How this story of an African Queen could impact our lives today? Jesus, greater than Solomon, stands here in our midst by his Holy Spirit. You have heard of Him or read about Him, but now you can have a face-to-face encounter with Him. Bring all your nagging and challenging questions to Him, and let Him answer and satisfy all your curiosity.

            There is nothing Jesus needs, and nothing you can give him satisfies Him other than your broken heart. Your sins will be forgiven, and Jesus will reward you with eternal life. He will fill you with the Holy Spirit; you can leave this place fully redeemed and satisfied.

 

 

           

 

 

           

 

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[1] http://www.kingsolomonlegend.com/king-solomon-queen-of-sheba.html

 

What is the Church? (Par 3 of 3): Church Is God's Dwelling Place

                                            CHURCH IS GOD’S DWELLING PLACE

(Ephesians 2:19-22)

            The beginning of the New Year is a perfect time to evaluate our past year and plan for what is ahead of us in 2024. I am excited about what God has in store for me personally, my family, and collectively at Hope Church. I pray that God will pour out His Holy Spirit on all of us so that we will grow in our understanding of who God is, his plans for us, and the World around us. This understanding will come as we read and apply His Word more.

            To navigate these turbulent times, we need God and His Word. Read it, live by it, and see how it will change you. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who resisted Hitler’s Nazi Germany in 1945, has this to say about the Scriptures. “Just as you do not analyze the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you. Accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart. In our meditation, we ponder the chosen text on the strength of the promise that it has something utterly personal to say to us for this day and for our Christian life.”

            Before Advent and Christmas, we learned about two of the three definitions of the church that the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus. We learned that the Church is God’s family. It is God’s house built on the foundation of the apostles, prophets, and Christ as the chief cornerstone. Today, we will see another spiritual definition of the church being God’s Temple or dwelling place. In simple terms, the church is where God lives.

            Ephesians 2:21-22, “In him, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Let me clarify the Word temple before we unpack these verses.

            What comes to your mind when you hear the Word temple? A Hindu temple, a Jewish temple or Synagogue, a Buddhist temple, or an Islamic Mosque. In the Bible, the temple does not refer to a particular structural building but is often called God’s house or the Tabernacle.

I. God’s dwelling place in the Old Testament

            In the Garden of Eden, God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. Genesis 3:8, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

            In Leviticus 26:11-12, God made a covenant with a promise to Israel. “I will put my dwelling place (Tabernacle) among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” Let’s see how God continued his dwelling among people.

            Though God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He never totally abandoned people. He returned to them repeatedly. We see His dwelling place among Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. He accompanied them in a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. (Ex 13:20-21).

            God gave them ten commandments and instructed Moses to build a sanctuary or Tabernacle for Him where He would dwell among them. Ex 25:8. At that time, Israelites lived in tents, so the presence of God dwelt in the tent of the wilderness tabernacle (Exodus 27:21).

            The Tabernacle was a physical and symbolic representation of God’s presence among people. Because the Lord met his people there, its general designation was “the house of the Lord” (Ex 34:26). Remember the incredible sight: when the Tabernacle was completed, the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. (Ex 40:34). It was the same cloud by which the Lord went before the people when they came out of Egypt.

            Later, after the Hebrew people entered the Promised Land and lived in fixed dwellings, God affixed His name to a place, sanctifying Solomon’s temple as the Lord’s holy dwelling place. Again, the Lord proved His presence during the temple’s dedication. “When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord.” (1 Kings 8:10–11).

            In the wilderness, God dwelt in the Tabernacle, a movable and portable tent fitting to the nomadic lifestyle of His people. In the promised land, God’s presence dwelt in a fixed location, Jerusalem, and a more permanent structure built by King Solomon. Does that mean that God is now bound and tied to a place called the temple?

            King Solomon had this humble realization, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! I Kings 8:27. This tells us that God is not limited to time, space, and dimensions. God boldly declared that heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?” Isaiah 66:1

            Israel’s history tells us that there is incredible religious corruption in the temple. Ezekiel saw animal worship in the temple. The more disgusting thing was that seventy elders of Israel bowed down to the idols and worshipped the Sun, turning their backs to the temple. ( Ezek 8). In Ezekiel 10, we read about God’s glory leaving the temple via the east gate. Like sheep without a shepherd, God’s people wandered in the darkness for their sins of rebellion and idolatry.

II. God’s dwelling place in the New Testament

            The Glory of God that left the temple that day reentered the earth when God’s son Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Jerusalem. In John Ist chapter, we read, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (tabernacled) among us. God once again dwelt among people in Jesus.

            After 33 and a half years of ministry, Jesus died, rose again on the third day, and ascended to heaven. He promised to return to the earth one day. Have we become orphans again without God’s presence on the planet? No! Jesus promised to build His Church and leave His Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and protect it until He returns to the earth for the second time.

III. Church is God’s dwelling place

            The Apostle’s essential message for the Ephesians was that they were individually and collectively the Church where God’s presence would dwell by His Spirit. Believers in the universal  Church are being built together in Christ and raised to become a holy dwelling place of God on the earth. The Holy Spirit began, sustaining and perfecting God’s dwelling place.

            People everywhere search for God, including those who don’t believe or foolishly deny His existence, because we are all made in His image. St. Augustine says, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord & our heart is restless until it rests in you.” In my conversation, Ron mentioned a discipleship booklet, “My Heart Christ’s Home,” by Robert Boyd Munger. I liked the title.

            Can you imagine what it would be like to have Jesus come to the home of our hearts and take a permanent residency? That’s what Jesus promised, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home (dwell) with them.” John 14:23.  In Rev 3:20, Jesus had a message to the Lukewarm Church that was neither cold nor hot in Laodicea: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If Anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

            Many christians and churches are Lukewarm in America and around the World. We need to hear the knocking of Jesus on our hearts. Let’s not let the loudness of the World drown that gentle knock of Jesus. Open your heart and let the Savior come in and make His dwelling.

            Then, each of us, individually and collectively as a church, becomes God’s dwelling place. What does it mean to be God’s dwelling place on earth? It means that we live lives that are pure and righteous. It means loving God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and loving your neighbor as yourself. When we do that, more and more people open their hearts to Jesus, and they, too, become God’s dwelling place.

 

 

 

 

 

Delighting in God's Word

                                                        DELIGHTING IN GOD’S WORD

            This is the time of the year when people make New Year’s resolutions. They mostly centered on getting into shape, living healthy, losing weight, spending sparingly, quitting dilapidating habits, etc. These resolutions are good, but conventional wisdom tells us that New Year’s resolutions typically fail without a plan.

            In 2024, could we all cultivate a habit of delighting in God’s Word? Those resolutions I mentioned above would temporarily benefit us when followed through. In contrast, the habit of delighting in God’s Word would help our bodies, minds, and souls to eternity. Before cultivating a habit of delighting in God’s word, we want to address two critical questions: Is the Bible Truly God’s Word? Secondly, is it relevant to us in the 21^st Century?

            Growing up in a Christian home in a predominantly Hindu country, our family maintained specific strict Christian disciplines. One of them was family devotions. Right after dinner, we would sit around, and one would read the scriptures and pray for various needs. I was always the first one to volunteer to read the Bible. For some reason, God put such a delight in my heart towards His Word. Since then, I read the Bible several times, yet it always amazes me.

            The Bible is a fascinating book! Here are some amazing facts of the Bible that you might not be aware of. 1. The Bible is the best-selling book in the world. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Bible is the best-selling and most widely distributed book in the entire world. Over the last 3,000+ years, Guinness estimates around 5 trillion Bibles were sold.

            The most expensive Bible in the world is worth millions. The Gutenberg Bible was the first edition produced with a moveable-type printer throughout the 1450s. A copy was sold to Japanese bookseller Maruzen Co. Ltd for a whopping $5.4 million; to this day, it holds the record for the most expensive Bible ever sold. At the same time, you can get a Bible for free right now. If you need one, please see me after the service.

            The Bible contains 1,189 chapters. If you read 3 to 4 chapters daily, you can finish reading the Bible in a Year. I am sure several of you may read your Bible regularly. But if you never read the Bible and wonder whether it is God’s Word and has any relevance, I give you two pieces of evidence to prove its divinity and relevance.

II. Is the Bible Truly God’s Word? 

            Internal evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word: First, It’s Unity. Even though it is really sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over approximately 1,500 years, by more than 40 authors from many walks of life, it remains as one unified book. This unity is unique from all other books and proves it is truly God’s Word.

            Second, It’s Prophecy. The Bible contains hundreds of detailed prophecies about the future of various nations, certain cities, and all humanity. Other prophecies concern the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all who would believe in Him. Unlike the prophecies found in other religious books or those by men such as Nostradamus, biblical prophecies are highly detailed. Over three hundred prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the OT have been fulfilled.

            Third, Its authority and power to change lives. Here is Paul’s advice to Timothy, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,.. and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Tim 3:15-17 Let’s come under the instruction of God’s Word.

            Some scholars attribute 1500-2000 words spoken by Jesus in the NT. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” More scriptures support that the Bible is God’s Word. God is eternal, and His words live eternally.

            External evidence that the Bible is God’s Word: The Bible details historical events through archaeological evidence and extrabiblical writings, and the historical accounts of the Bible have been proven to be accurate and true. Another external evidence is the indestructibility of the Bible. From early Roman Emperors like Diocletian, through communist dictators and on to modern-day atheists, the Bible has withstood a constant onslaught from detractors. Yet it endures and is still the most widely published book in the world. Let’s look at its relevance.

II. Is the Bible Relevant in the 21^st Century?

            Michael Youssef refers to the Six Days War of Israel in 1967. On June 4, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan his senior officers and surprised them by reading from the Bible the story of David and Goliath in I Samuel 17. He encouraged them to strike at the vulnerable spot of their enemies like David aimed at Goliath’s weak spot. After 132 hours of fighting, Israel won the war.

            Michael notes, “The Word of God is as relevant today as it was when the ink was still wet on its parchment. The same ancient, divinely inspired wisdom that inspired Israel to fight and win is still ready to inspire you and me to live the victorious Christian life.”[1] Many Christians let the Bible, the best-selling book in the world, gather dust on their shelves rather than pick it up and read. Why do so many Christians claim to love God while ignoring His inspired Word? 

III. Delighting in God’s Word. (Psalm 1:1-6)

            If the Bible is indeed God’s word, ignoring it is like ignoring the voice of God that comes through His Word. Our response should be that we delight in God’s Word. The Psalmist shows the contrast between the wicked and the righteous, their way of living, and their final destiny. Vs.1, He begins with a warning to a godly person, saying, do not walk in the ways of the wicked or the people of the world and even stay away from their company.

            To avoid the ungodly people doesn’t mean running away from the world to a solitary or monastic life. It is a call to live godly lives while surrounded by ungodly people.  It is possible by delighting in God’s Word and meditating on it day and night. The more we cherish, read, and meditate on it, the more we will get to know and love Jesus as God’s word reveals Him to us.

            Psalm 119 gives us insights into what happens to those who cherish and abide by God’s Word. Seeking God and obeying His laws brings Joy (1-2). Following God’s commands helps us remain pure and keeps us from sinning against God. (9-11). We rejoice in following God’s commands as one rejoices in great riches. (Vs. 14). God’s word strengthens our weary souls filled with sorrow (Vs. 28). God’s word keeps us from deceitful ways. (Vs.29) God’s word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, helping us walk securely in this world (Vs. 105).

            The Bible is the only food that will spiritually nourish and sustains us. Just as our physical body needs nutritious food to be strong, our spiritual health depends on spiritual food.  In Deut 8:3, Moses said to the people of Israel, “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

            Jesus used The exact words to defeat Satan in the wilderness: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.  Job, the one who was tested beyond any of us, said, “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”

            Few Americans have had to miss many meals. It is not to say we should feel guilty for living in a land of plenty. Instead, we should feel grateful to God while keeping the mindset of Job. We should treasure God’s word more than our daily bread. How can we go month after month without feeding our spirits on God’s Word? Let’s read our Bibles and feed our souls daily.

 

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[1] Michael Youssef, How To Read the Bible (As if your life depends on it), page 4