Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Depending on God's Great Love and More (Ps. 117:2)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/24/2012 6:58:07 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Psalm 117 PT-3

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Psalm 117:2

 

            Message of the verses:  We begin today with the third SD on the shortest chapter in the entire Bible, Psalm 117.

 

            Depending on God’s Great Love (v. 2a):  “2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us.”  “2 For he loves us with unfailing love,” (NLT)

 

            Lamentations 3:22 states, “22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 say, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  What can we learn from these two verses?  We can learn that if it were not for the grace of God we would end up in hell, but thanks be to God that one of His wonderful attributes is lovingkindness or love and our verse says that His loving kindness is great toward us.  I can say that I am thankful for the lovingkindness of the Lord, and thankful that God’s justice for my sins was taken out on the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross so that I can receive the lovingkindness of the Lord.

            Some of the Jews were proud of being a part of God’s chosen race and so they began to look down at Gentiles calling them “dogs,” because of that pride.  Some in the Church today are proud, but we have nothing to be proud of for all that is given to us is in Christ Jesus and just as Ephesians 2:9 states “so that no one may boast.”  Dr. Wiersbe writes “A proud church is a weak church. To enjoy the praise of men is to lose the blessing of God.”

 

            Resting on Divine Assurance (v. 2b):  “And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!”  “The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!”  (NLT)

 

            Dr. Wiersbe begins this section by stating “Yes, God’s people are saved by faith and live by faith, but our faith would mean nothing were it not for His faithfulness that ‘endures forever.’”

1) firmness, faithfulness, truth; 1a) sureness, reliability; 1b) stability continuance; 1c) faithfulness; reliableness;   1d) truth” These are the meanings of the word “truth” or faithfulness that is found in verse two. 

            We worship a God whose character cannot change, so we do not need to fret about the feelings that are within us.  We know according to 1Thess. 5:24 that if God calls us to do something, He is faithful to help us do it, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  This is a wonderful verse to remember, especially in times when we are not sure that we want to do what we know the Lord is asking us to do.  Dr. Wiersbe concludes this section with these words, “To rely on our faith is to put faith in faith, but to rely on God’s faithfulness is to put faith in the Lord.  Our assurance is in the Word of God and the God of the Word.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The things that I have learned through this short section of Scripture with the wonderful help of Warren Wiersbe were exactly what I needed to learn or to be reassured of today.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I want to put my faith in the assurance of the Word of God and the God of the Word.

 

Memory verses for the week:  2Peter 1:8-11

 

8 For if these qualities are yours, and our increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.   10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

 

8/24/2012 7:32:42 AM

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