KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, June 16, 2018
Chapters: Psalms 134, 146-150
Message: A People Of God
Hello My Friend,
Do you ever wonder what the world was like when Abraham was around? He was incredibly wealthy because he knew he was blessed by God for his faithfulness to Him, and even though he had no Bible to read, he followed Him by faith. Well, with most of the world full of sin, God decided that He was not going to focus on all the people of the world, just one people, His people. God decided to create a nation that would follow Him wholeheartedly, and perhaps the rest of the world would catch on and follow too. Of course, through Abraham came Isaac, then Jacob, and then the children of Israel, whom God chose as His people. Today, God still uses His people to show the rest of the world who He is, but now He uses His own Son to make them His people. Together, we are joined as one, along with Abraham, and it is all done by faith. “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” – Galatians 3:6-7.
God never intended for only one nation to be His, well, He wanted one nation under Him, but not according to heritage as we might think, but according to faith. God’s people are not one race, they are one people, one nations, joined together by faith, and He takes care of every one of them, even when they are not so faithful.
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 146:5-10.
“The LORD looseth the prisoners:” We are prisoners to anything that keeps us from living life to the fullest as one of God’s people. I look at people with disabilities, they are happy with who they are, they get through the obstacles and enjoy the life that God has given them. The devil is the one who puts doubt in our heads and keeps us bondage to it, who makes us lose hope. When in doubt, praise God and sing to Him.
“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” – Psalm 147:7-15.
“he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.” Let me tell you, God does not want us to fend for ourselves and just take what we can get, savages do that and we are not savages. We are His people, His children, and His glory. While He does want us to make some effort as faith without works are dead, He also wants us completely trusting in Him, and as we work together He will take care of us. Disappointments are not God’s way of telling us that He does not want us to have something, but to trust His ways and do His work without any doubt. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” – Matthew 21:21-22.
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,” Do you know how many people take this verse out of context to try and prove that God does not exist? They ask a bunch of people to pray for something like, a cure for cancer and if he does it they will believe. God can do the impossible, and He does cure cancer, but He will never do something just to prove to some skeptic and unbelievers that He exists. Besides, He has proven over and over again to them that He is God, they are just too hardhearted and proud to admit that. Yes, there are natural evils in this world that came from the fall of man that God allows us to be afflicted with, including diseases. Life is not a game of poker, God does not just pull cards out of the deck of life and tell you to figure it all out, He hands us things in life to strengthen our relationship with Him, He knows what we need and what we can handle, so, if He has given you something that feels overwhelming, praise Him, you are blessed.
“Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 148:5-14.
“the praise of all his saints;” His saints are those who are saved. You know, while Old Testament times were based on the law of Moses, salvation was still granted upon their believing God was their Saviour. They like us served God in good works because they believed in Him and followed His commands, and that is how their works mattered. The difference, our good works matter after we are saved because salvation is now granted solely by grace through our believing in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Before or after Christ came, we were all sinners and need salvation. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:3-7.
“but according to his mercy he saved us,” Salvation has always been about the mercy of God, the best Christian still sins, but by His mercy we are saved. We do not always have to ask God for things, sometimes it is good to just praise Him. “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.” – Psalm 149:1-5.
“and a twoedged sword in their hand;” What is the two edged sword of all God’s people? God’s Word. The Word of God will stop the vilest sinner in their tracks, the Word of God will strike the heart of the biggest ego, the Word of God will also keep the biggest ego away. There is nothing more powerful than the Word of God. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12.
“and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” God certainly knows our heart, and when we trust Him He binds up the wounds of every pain and sorrow we have and gives us hope like no other. Therefore, whether we are happy or sad we are to praise Him for all His goodness. After all, the sorrows will not last, and one day there will be no more. “Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 150.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.” – Psalm 147:2.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, It is truly amazing how much my life has changed since I became Yours. You literally picked me up and brought me out of the prison I was in, I know I mess up still, but I know how far I have come and I thank You for that. Lord, give me Your power to love, trust, and follow You with my whole heart, mind, and soul, let me not become weary or doubtful, but stronger in my faith as I walk with You. Give me the strength to walk with You every day and the will to see a little bit of You in me each day. In your name Jesus. Amen
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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