Morning Musings – Page 196

Morning Musing: Psalm 130:4

February 12, 2018February 7, 2018Leave a comment

“But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

The fear of the Lord is a poorly understood concept even among His people. This is quite simply because we think about fear only in a single sense: terror. To be afraid of something isn’t good. Thus, while perhaps we should fear the Lord because we’re told to do so over and over and over again in the Scriptures, this isn’t something that ultimately draws us closer to Him. We fear Him so that we’ll do what He says. Once we develop the pattern of doing what He says, then we begin to grow closer to Him, at which point we don’t need to fear Him any longer. The logic here seems just about airtight…and it’s just about completely wrong. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: James 4:15

February 9, 2018February 5, 2018Leave a comment

“Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)

How do you make plans? How attached to those plans are you? What James offers here is a reminder that all of our plans must be made contingent on what the Lord has planned. All of them. We can strive for whatever we want, but nothing will happen that He does not allow for some reason. The question then becomes: What does God have planned? Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Ezekiel 37:13-14

February 7, 2018February 5, 2018Leave a comment

“And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

We serve the God who is in the business of bringing life where it does not exist. He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. Where there is death, He transforms it into life. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: James 3:2

February 5, 2018January 30, 2018Leave a comment

“For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to also bridle his whole body.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

There’s an old playground saying that’s used as a defense against being called a mean name. You’ve probably said it before: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It’s a smart retort in the face of an ugly word, but it is entirely false. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Ezekiel 33:7

February 2, 2018January 30, 2018Leave a comment

“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

This is the second time now Ezekiel has been given this message. The first was in the context of a series of warnings to the people of Israel. This time it comes on the heels of a series of warning to the nations. He was called to warn the people about God’s impending judgment. If the people didn’t listen, they were going to be judged and the fault would be entirely their own. If they listened, they would be saved and Ezekiel was to thank. If, however, he didn’t warn and they received the judgment coming, their doom would rest on his head since he didn’t warn them as he was told. This is powerful stuff. What does it mean for us? Read the rest…