Rescued to Sing

April 27

(Psalms 40:1-3 NIV) "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. {2} He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. {3} He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”

(Colossians 1:13-14 NIV) “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, {14} in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

When David cried out to God, the Lord heard his cry and turned to rescue him. God lifted him out of the “slimy pit”. He came to where David was stuck in the mire, pulled him out, and washed the mud off him. He gave David a place to stand where he would not sink again -- a foundation of solid rock. The Lord also changed David’s tune. He went from singing the blues, to singing songs of joy. He was rescued to sing God’s praise. Today’s verses are like a preview of the New Testament gospels. Jesus came down to rescue us from the “slimy pit” of sin. But for us to be lifted up, God had to reach down. For us to get clean, Jesus had to get His hands dirty. He reached into the slime of this world to rescue us. God does nothing by accident, so we know it is His will that we be saved. We’ve been rescued to sing His praises. Sing them well. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

 

 

Loving Discipline

April 26

(Psalm 39:9-13 NIV) I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. {10} Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. {11} You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth-- each man is but a breath. "Selah" {12} "Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. {13} Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more.””

(Hebrews 12:5-12 NIV) “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, {6} because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." {7} Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? {8} If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. {9} Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! {10} Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. {11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. {12} Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”

When discipline comes from God, there is no use complaining, for we have earned it in some way. When God’s rebuke comes, He is treating us as a son or daughter that He loves enough to correct. Do not mistake the normal trials of life for God’s discipline. Every trial and difficulty is not connected with discipline from God. This is different stuff. This usually flows out of known disobedience. This is God’s loving but firm hand correcting us for our own good. The godly will realize this. Discipline is never pleasant, but it is necessary for continued spiritual vitality. It may feel like a death sentence, but it is a pathway to life. We cry out for help, but God is already with us. Discipline may produce weeping, but God will hold us and love us, even while rebuking us. Any pain we experience will be redeemed by increased strength. Any stress we endure will be replaced by God’s peace. God loves you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Life is Short

April 25

(Psalm 39:4-8 NIV) "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. {5} You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. {6} Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. {7} "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. {8} Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.”

(James 4:13-17 NIV) ““Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." {14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. {15} Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." {16} As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. {17} Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.””

Life is short. David describes it as “fleeting”. When compared to eternity, our life is like our breath on a cold morning. It appears for a brief moment and then disappears into the vast atmosphere as if it were never here. Our days are over in a blink of God’s eye. So what will you spend this brief moment doing? Will you squander this “handbreadth” of time we’ve been allotted bustling around trying to make money? Will you waste this pittance of a lifespan heaping up wealth that will belong to someone else in a heartbeat? Or will you spend your small allotment of days getting ready for eternity? Will you put your hope in the Lord who made you and who will take you home? Will you do the good that you know you ought to do? Never presume you will have tomorrow. No one is guaranteed even one more day. Live today like it was your last. Life is short. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Time to Speak

April 24

(Psalm 39:2 NIV) “But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. {3} My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:”

(Ephesians 4:15 NIV) “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

There is a time for godly silence and then there is a time when holding our tongue would be a sin. There is a time to be still and there is a time to speak up and speak out. Sometimes, truth has to be spoken, because not speaking the truth would be spiritual negligence. But what is spoken must be the truth. Too many personal opinions get passed off as truth these days. Lies are lifted up as truth and prefaced with a sincere, “I swear to God”. Along with being the truth, our words must be spoken in love. Words spoken to hurt and curse are not of God, even if they are the truth. The motive of our heart when speaking makes all the difference to God. So pray for wisdom and courage. Pray for wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent, and wisdom to choose words wisely. Pray for the courage to speak up when love requires it and then, speak the truth in love. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Silence is Golden

April 23

(Psalm 39:1 NIV) “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.”

(Proverbs 12:18 NIV) “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

(Proverbs 18:21 NIV) “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

(James 3:5-12 NIV) “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. {6} The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. {7} All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, {8} but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. {9} With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. {10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. {11} Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? {12} My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

It has been said that silence is golden. For the most part, we are better off when we hold our tongue. It’s hard to get in trouble for words we do not say. The tongue can be a dagger that stabs and even kills. It can deeply wound those around us when wielded carelessly. Do your best to keep this knife in its sheath. Muzzling our mouths can prove to be difficult. It’s like trying to hold onto fire. It’s hard to restrain this kind of power. So we give in and let it all hang out. We employ a “scorched earth” policy when it comes to our words. Expressing ourselves has somehow become more important than exercising discretion. We have forgotten the destructive power that lies inside of our mouths. Get control of your tongue, Christian -- in public and at home with your family. Remember, silence is often more valuable than gold. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Call the Rescue Squad

April 22

(Psalm 38:22 NIV) “Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.”

(Galatians 1:3-5 NIV) “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, {4} who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, {5} to whom be glory for ever and ever.”

The rock band Head East had a great hit song in the 1970’s called “Never Been Any Reason”. One of the memorable lines from that song went like this: “Save my life, I’m goin’ down for the last time.” David had a “Head East” moment in his life and cried out to his Savior for help. We should do the same. All petitions of sinners who are sane end up in the same place -- an appeal for rescue. We cry out for God to save us. When sin threatens to inundate our souls, there is only one place to turn: Jesus, who laid down His life to rescue us. You will find no better Savior than Jesus. Are you struggling today with the weight of sin? Does it feel like you’re going down for the last time? Turn to God. Turn to Jesus. He is the Answer. Make David’s petition, your petition. Cry out to God, “Have mercy, don’t abandon me, rescue me.” It’s a prayer God will hear. He is listening. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Never God Forsaken

April 21

(Psalm 38:21-22 NIV) “O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.”

(Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV) ““God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?””

(John 14:8) “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

When all the humans in our life have given up on us… when the world has turned its back… there is only one place left to turn. David cries out to God, “Don’t abandon me; stay with me.” And God says, “I am with you.” David still had his problems. He still had to deal with his sin here on earth. But he had someone who would walk with him through the valley of the shadow. As Christians, we have the assurance that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. We may abandon him, but he will not abandon us. We often try every alternative but the one prescribed for us by the Great Physician. We grope around in the dark for answers, when the Answer is right in front of our face. In fact, He lives in us. Jesus is the Answer. Jesus is the Light. When all of your earthly streams run dry, remember Christ’s promise: "I will never leave you; I will never forsake you." -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Petition of a Sane Sinner

April 20

(Psalm 38:1 NIV) “O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

(Luke 18:9-14 NIV) “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: {10} "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {11} The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. {12} I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' {13} "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' {14} "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

(Titus 3:4-6 NIV) “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, {5} he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, {6} whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior”

Sin is an expensive monstrosity that threatens to bankrupt and devour us. Psalm 38 is not just a testimony to the high cost of sin; it also contains the petition of a sane sinner. Once we realize we have moved away from God -- once we come to our senses, the sane sinner will petition God for help. We realize the desperate situation we are in and call out to the only one who can save us. David kicks off Psalm 38 with the greatest petition a sinner can produce. He asks God for mercy. He appeals to the Lord in a prayer of desperation. This is the prayer of a sinner approaching a holy and almighty God. It’s the wisest prayer we can pray when we have offended our Father in heaven. When we are drowning in sin, “Have mercy!” is the prayer to be praying. We have a great Savior. Jesus is His name. Cry out to Him. Appeal to His mercy. It’s the first step in our journey home. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Social Consequences of Sin

April 19

(Psalm 38:11,19-20 NIV) “My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. {19} Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous. {20} Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.”

As our sin splatters out from where it hits the fan, there are various social consequences. Many struggle with the broken relationships that sin produces. It can cost us our friends and family; those who matter to us the most. You can only abuse people so long before they decide they would be better off living without you. Many are haunted by the loss of loved ones because of chronic foolishness. Once respect is lost, it is difficult to regain. And if we have enemies, we hand them a loaded gun when we sin. Our indiscretions become like lethal weapons in their hands. The financial costs can be staggering as well. We could probably put our grandchildren through college with the money we have flushed down the stool of sin. It always costs us more than we thought we would have to pay. Those who are wise will find ways to avoid sinning. It just costs too much. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Kryptonite for Every Superman

April 18

(Psalm 38:3,5,7,8,10 NIV) “Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. {5} My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. {7} My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. {8} I am feeble and utterly crushed… {10} My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.”

(Proverbs 3:1-8 NIV) “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, {2} for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. {3} Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. {4} Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. {5} Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; {6} in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. {7} Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. {8} This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

(Proverbs 4:18-22 NIV) “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. {19} But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. {20} My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. {21} Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; {22} for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.”

As time goes by, sin wreaks havoc on our body. Many today bear the scars of foolish and dis-obedient behavior. We start out strong, thinking we are Superman. We don’t realize until it’s too late that the devil has the Kryptonite. Sin is persistent and steady in its quest to rob us of our health. Sometimes it comes swiftly, sometimes it takes decades. Psalm 38 describes the physical anguish: festering wounds, searing pain, feebleness, no strength, bad heart, bad eyes, and being utterly crushed. Doesn’t that sound like fun? We have all known someone who was taken down physically by their sin. We recall their young, vibrant faces, and we lament the condition they ended up in. We have visited them in treatment and in hospitals. We have attended their funerals. Don’t be a fool. No one is Superman when it comes to sin. Everyone is susceptible to the Kryptonite. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

 

Psychological Consequences of Sin

April 17

(Psalm 38:4,6,8,9,13,14 NIV) “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. {6} I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. {8} I groan in anguish of heart. {9} All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. {13} I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth; {14} I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.”

David was a man in deep psychological pain. His heart was in anguish to the point of audible groaning and sighing. He was shutting down emotionally. He had stopped listening and communicating. The silence of death was very near. He had entered the land of Depression, where we isolate ourselves and shut down so as to avoid the psychological pain. Guilt and shame can be overwhelming for the sinner. The devil never seems to mention this when he is luring us in by making sin attractive. Our conscience was given to us by God as a protection device. It is not good to consistently override its flashing red lights with chemicals, or smother it with counselors who tell us what we want to hear. We must deal with its source, not simply mask it. Turn to God. He has provided us an antidote. His name is Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Grabbed by the Back of the Neck

April 16

(Psalm 38:1-2 NIV) “O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. {2} For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.”

(Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV) “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? {8} If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. {9} Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! {10} Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. {11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Many of us had fathers who would grab us by the back of the neck and correct us when we behaved badly. So did King David. He endured God’s correction several times. His mistakes and infidelities are a matter of public record and his sin had spiritual consequences. Even kings cannot escape that. When we ignore God’s boundaries, He will sometimes grab us by the back of the neck and correct us. David felt the weight of God’s hand come down upon him more than once. He felt God’s arrows of conviction pierce his heart. One cannot ignore the arrows of God and His heavy hand. Only a fool would try. God loves us enough to discipline us. The Lord knows that if left unchecked, sin has disastrous consequences. And while His discipline can be painful, it can also change our direction and save our lives. Listen to God. Don’t force Him to grab you by the back of the neck. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Package Deal

April 15

(Psalm 37:39-40 NIV) “The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. {40} The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

(Joel 2:28-32 NIV) "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. {29} Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. {30} I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. {31} The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. {32} And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”

Perhaps the greatest blessings from God are salvation and deliverance. And if you want proof that God’s blessing does not always translate into “the abundant life”, it’s found in these verses. God promises to deliver us “IN” times of trouble. How can God possibly be a stronghold in times of trouble, if blessing from God means a trouble free life? We all need the salvation that comes from the Lord. Without it, everything we call “blessing” is meaningless. Is Jesus your stronghold in time of trouble? Have you taken refuge in him? Have you been saved? Is there something you need to be delivered from today? Do you want the blessings God has in store for you here on this earth and for eternity? Come to Jesus. The ultimate blessing from God comes in His gift of grace to us. God wants to deliver you and save you. Will you accept His salvation and deliverance? It’s a package deal. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Stumbling Toward God

April 14

(Psalm 37:23-25,31 NIV) “If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; {24} though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. {25} I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken… {31} The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.”

(James 3:2 NIV) “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”

Perhaps the greatest blessings from God are salvation and deliverance. And if you want proof that God’s blessing does not always translate into “the abundant life”, it’s found in these verses. God promises to deliver us “IN” times of trouble. How can God possibly be a stronghold in times of trouble, if blessing from God means a trouble free life? We all need the salvation that comes from the Lord. Without it, everything we call “blessing” is meaningless. Is Jesus your stronghold in time of trouble? Have you taken refuge in him? Have you been saved? Is there something you need to be delivered from today? Do you want the blessings God has in store for you here on this earth and for eternity? Come to Jesus. The ultimate blessing from God comes in His gift of grace to us. God wants to deliver you and save you. Will you accept His salvation and deliverance? It’s a package deal. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Our Inheritance

April 13

(Psalm 37:11 NIV) “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”

(Psalm 37:18 NIV) “The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.”

(1 Peter 1:3-7 NIV) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, {5} who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. {6} In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. {7} These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Receiving an inheritance is indeed a blessing. Usually, it is something we did not work for. It was earned by someone else, and then in an act of kindness, it was passed on to us. Did you know, Christian, that you have an inheritance from God? You did not earn it. It is a gift from God that endures forever. It will not spoil or fade. A small portion of God’s inheritance can be had here on earth. We have God’s peace; a peace that passes all understanding. But the lion’s share of our inheritance is waiting on the other side of death. Jesus is building a mansion for us in heaven. Hang onto this truth, believer. While we live out our days here, we will struggle with grief and trials. We will suffer loss and live with pain. There will be many tests of our faith. But we who believe have this great hope: God will care for us. We will be blessed. Our inheritance is guaranteed. Believe it. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Shiner

April 12

(Psalm 37:5-6 NIV) “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: {6} He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

(Matthew 5:14 NIV) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

When God blesses us with His presence, we become a light that shines in the darkness. We become a beacon to those dying in sin. We become a lighthouse to those lost in the sea of envy, anger, and grief. If we truly have the light of Christ, it cannot be hidden -- and nothing draws people to Jesus like those who shine with God’s love for the world. When we have lived through a long dark night, the light of dawn is always a welcome thing. As the Son rises, hope returns to the hearts of lost people. Christians, we can shine like the noonday sun when we stop fretting and fighting, trust in the Lord with all our heart, and do God’s work with a passion for Jesus. When we delight in the Lord and refrain from sin, our lives begin to glow with the love of Christ. His light shines forth and people living in darkness are drawn to it. What a blessing to be used by God to help others find eternal life! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Desires of Your Heart

April 11

(Psalm 37:4 NIV) “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

(2 Chronicles 1:6-12 NIV) “Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the Tent of Meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. {7} That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." {8} Solomon answered God, "You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. {9} Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. {10} Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" {11} God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, {12} therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

What do you think of when you think of “the desires of your heart”? If you are thinking wealth or a new sports car, don’t forget the first half of Psalm 37:4. If we truly delight ourselves in the Lord, do you really think the things of this world will be as important as they once were? When we delight in the Lord, God changes what we want. If we think a sports car will complete our life, we are not yet “delighting in the Lord”. God will give us the desires of our heart when the desires of our heart line up with the desires of His heart. Do you really think God, who loves us enough to die for us, would give us something that would draw us away from his love? God loves us too much to give us the junk this world covets. He loves us enough to give us what he knows we should have. When our heart desires what will truly bless us and glorify God, we will take joy in receiving the desires of our heart. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Committing, Waiting, and Watching

April 10

(Psalm 37:5-8 NIV) “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: {6} He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. {7} Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. {8} Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.”

(Psalm 37:34 NIV) “Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land…

(Psalm 37:37 NIV) “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.”

The blessings of God flow toward those who have committed their way to Him. They flow to those who move toward the light of righteousness. If we have indeed committed our way to God, we can trust that whatever we find on that way is something He can use to bless our lives. We may have more; we may have to do with less. It may come as blessing, or it may come in trials. We wait for the Lord. We still our hearts and our mouths and wait patiently for Him. We keep to His way and avoid wrath and anger. They lead nowhere and it’s hard to praise God through clenched teeth. Rage will murder blessing. And we are careful about who we watch. We observe the blameless and the upright; we look at the quality of life enjoyed by those who have loved the Lord for years and we emulate them. We leave lifestyles that corrupt, and cling to that which brings blessing. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Blessed Do Gooders

April 9

(Psalm 37:3-9 NIV) “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. {4} Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

(Ephesians 2:10 NIV) “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Blessing is a gift from God, but it is no coincidence that blessed people trust in the Lord and do good. Doing good can earn one the label of “do-gooder” among the carnal, but it is a desirable trait in the eyes of God. We receive God’s blessing in order to bless others. We receive in order to give, not hoard. Doing good will not earn us a place in heaven. But it can open doors of blessing here on Earth. We must also learn to delight in the Lord. We delight in the Giver more than the gifts. Until we learn to delight in God himself, no blessing God gives us will ever be enough. We cannot receive the desires of our heart if we do not delight in the Lord, for we will not recognize the blessings when they come. And if God’s blessings go unrecognized, his name will go un-praised, and we will go un-blessed (at least in our own minds). Do good and learn to delight in the Lord. – Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Directives for Blessing

April 8

(Psalm 37:3 NIV) “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

(Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; {6} in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. {7} Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. {8} This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

When we think of blessing, we usually think of it as a gift from God. While that is true, there are certainly some things we can do to get us into a position to receive blessing. Psalm 37 lists several. First, we must trust in the Lord. Life does all it can to create insecurity in us. When times are tough, we can easily slip into self-pity and begin to doubt God and his goodness. Faith is meant for such times as these. It’s easy to trust God when we have all we want. But when we suffer loss, or we see someone who appears to be blessed more than we are, we are faced with a choice. Do we trust that God has given us as much as he wants us to have, or do we focus on the quantities involved and grumble at God? We can never appreciate and receive blessing with an upright heart unless we fully trust God to give us what He wants, and trust that what He gives us is enough. Trust in the Lord. – Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Coveting Blessing

April 7

(Psalm 37:1-9 NIV) “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; {2} for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. {3} Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. {4} Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. {5} Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: {6} He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. {7} Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. {8} Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. {9} For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”

(Exodus 20:17 NIV) "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

What do you think of when you think of blessing? Do you think of receiving a gift from God, or do you think of having more than others? When you receive a blessing from God, do you look up in thanksgiving, or do you look around in envy? Is blessing qualitative or quantitative for you? Early in Psalm 37, God says, “Do not fret.” He says it three times. God says it because, no matter what He blesses us with, we have this carnal tendency to look around and compare. We live in a culture of envy. We don’t feel blessed unless we have as much as, or more than, everyone else. We think God owes us the same amount of blessing as those around us. So instead of focusing on the intent of God’s blessing, we focus on the content of our blessings in comparison to others. This is sin. God says, “Do not fret. Stop coveting. Don’t envy.” Be thankful for what you have today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Highway to Heaven: Part 4

April 6

(Psalm 36:9-10 NIV) “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. {10} Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.”

(Titus 2:11-14 NIV) “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. {12} It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, {13} while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, {14} who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

The on-ramp for the highway to heaven is knowing God; not just knowing about God, but knowing God intimately. In Genesis, the KJV says that Adam “knew” Eve and she conceived and bore a son. The “knowing” that God speaks of here is more than head knowledge. It is as intimate as a husband and wife relationship. God wants us to know him. He offers us a hand. The Righteous one reaches down for the unrighteous. He lifts us off our backs and we join the “upright in heart”. We rise up and walk the highway to heaven. Grace begins to teach us. We learn to say “No” to things that would hinder our journey and our knowing Jesus. And God continues to love those who know him. Do you know God like this? Are you intimate with God? Does Jesus live in you? Are you living in Him? This is the kind of relationship God wants with us. This is the highway to heaven. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Highway to Heaven: Part 3

April 5

(Psalm 36:8-9 NIV) “They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. {9} For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

(John 8:12 NIV) “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

(1 Peter 2:9 NIV) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Traveling God’s highway changes us. We no longer need to travel in the darkness. We have come into the light of God’s love and that changes us. We begin to see things differently in God’s light. In His light, we begin to focus on the positive. Things seem brighter when we walk in the light. The sun and the stars are brighter. Our burden is lighter. Our life is filled with hope. We begin drinking from a different fountain. It flows from the river of life and we fill up on God’s love. We do not live in denial of evil and wickedness, but we no longer bask in it, serve it, or fear it. We rise above it as God lifts us out of darkness and into his wonderful light. We see Jesus -- maybe for the first time. Where everything was once darkness, light now illuminates our life. The negatives of life are still there, but now we see more. We can see beyond them. We have been given new eyes. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Highway to Heaven: Part 2

April 4

(Psalm 36:7-11 NIV) “How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

(Lamentations 3:22 NIV) “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”

(Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV) “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, {5} made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.”

The highway to heaven is paved with mercy and love. Getting onto the highway involves realizing this great truth. We cannot buy this truth -- it is priceless. We can only accept it as a gift from God. On the highway to heaven we are all equal. Those of high earthly standing and those of lower standing, merge as fellow travelers. On the highway to heaven, we no longer view God as deficient. We realize that while we thought He was working against us, He was really dying for us. We begin to view the cross as more than just a cheap trinket to wear around our neck. We realize that it is the pearl of great price. It is the on-ramp to the highway to heaven. Our bitterness and hatred begin to fade away and we are drawn to God’s great goodness. We want it for ourselves and those we love. We take shelter in the shadow of His wings and fill up on His unfailing love. Welcome to God’s highway. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Highway to Heaven: Part 1

April 3

(Psalm 36:5-6 NIV) “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. {6} Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.”

(Isaiah 35:8 NIV) “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.”

Scripture describes two ways mankind can take; two roads, or highways, and they end up in very different places. Avoiding the highway to hell will require getting on (and staying on) the highway to heaven. Getting onto the highway to heaven involves appealing to the faithfulness and the love of God. The same God who created hell for the Devil and his angels, has a mercy that is never ending. Only our stubborn refusal to accept God’s Son can keep us from receiving His mercy and forgiveness. Christ offers us a new way. Take it! We must also recognize God’s righteous and holy justice. Recognizing the Lordship of Christ means we recognize His right to judge sin. It means we see God as worthy to make judgments regarding our eternity. He is the righteous and holy Judge. We are not. Recognizing Christ’s “otherness” is another on-ramp to the highway to heaven. Take it! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Highway to Hell: Part 3

April 2

(Psalm 36:4&12} “Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong. {12} See how the evildoers lie fallen-- thrown down, not able to rise!”

(Acts 9:1-9,17-18 NIV) “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest {2} and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. {3} As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. {4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" {5} "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. {6} "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." {7} The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. {8} Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. {9} For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything… {17} Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." {18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized…”

On the highway to hell we stop listening to our conscience. We tune it out. It grows weaker and weaker. Things we said we’d never do become daily occurrences. The voice of God grows faint and eventually, our conscience is rendered useless. We’re committed to sin and we cease rejecting what is wrong. We begin to make deliberate decisions to sin. We plan to do bad stuff, even as we lie in our beds. We even begin to take pride in our sin. It becomes a badge to wear… a flag to wave… an anthem to sing. But eventually, the highway comes to an abrupt end. We don’t see it coming and we hit the proverbial brick wall. We fall and we can’t get up. We crash and burn and end up flat on our backs. But being flat on our back has one bright spot: it offers us one last opportunity to look up. God in his grace gives us one last chance. Are you there? Look up. Change the road you’re on. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Highway to Hell: Part 2

April 1

(Psalm 36:2-3 NIV) “For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. {3} The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.”

(Jeremiah 6:16 NIV) ““This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” But you said, “We will not walk in it.””

We have stood at a crossroads and chosen a direction. Once the roads diverge, we live with our choice. On the highway to hell, pride blinds us to our sin. Our ego becomes obese as we habitually flatter ourselves. Like Pharisees, we strut around pointing out sin in others, while ignoring our own. Our words betray our hearts, as our tongues broadcast what is hidden deep inside us. Gossip, slander, cursing, deception, lying, and boasting become normal speech patterns. While condemning others, we praise ourselves with the mouths God gave us to praise Him. We cease to be prudent. Wisdom and goodness end up in the ditches on the highway to hell. Rash and promiscuous behavior becomes the norm as our foolish deeds reveal foolish hearts. There is only one way off the slippery road leading down to the pit. Jesus is the way home. Choose a new direction. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

The Highway to Hell: Part 1

March 31

(Psalm 36:1 NIV) “An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.”

(Proverbs 7:16-27 NIV) “I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. {17} I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. {18} Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! {19} My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. {20} He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." {21} With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. {22} All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose {23} till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. {24} Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. {25} Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. {26} Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. {27} Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”

God knows the difference between “wickedness” and “righteousness”. The reason we often don’t know the difference is that we don’t know God well enough. Righteousness and wickedness travel different roads. One road leads to heaven, the other to hell. In Psalm 36, David starts with the wicked road. He tells us the “on ramp” for the highway to hell is losing the fear of God. We mistake God’s grace, and the fact that God is love, for God’s blessing on any and all behavior. We forget God is holy and righteous. We forget that sin and God are completely incompatible. We forget that God holds the keys to eternity. We cease to fear God in the proper context. But God will judge us, and if we are on the wrong road when our day comes, we will not be able to simply turn around and go the other way. Our fate will have been sealed by the godless road we chose to travel. Choose the Jesus highway. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Two Highways

March 30

(Psalm 36 NIV) “An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. {2} For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. {3} The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. {4} Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong. {5} Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. {6} Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. {7} How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. {8} They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. {9} For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. {10} Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. {11} May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. {12} See how the evildoers lie fallen-- thrown down, not able to rise!”

(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. {14} But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Many times in life, our problem is not a lack of opportunity, but of having more than one opportunity and choosing wrongly. We come to that proverbial fork in the road and we go the wrong direction. The roads diverge and we take what looks like the easy road -- but it soon turns into a crooked road -- and then into a dark path -- and before you know it we end up in the ditch, mugged by our own life choices. In Matthew 7, Jesus spoke of a narrow road that leads to life. The poet Robert Frost called it “The Road Less Traveled”. Jesus also spoke of a second way; a way that is wide, but which leads to destruction. Psalm 36 is a testament to these two ways and where they end up. It’s a tale of two highways. In the next few days, we will look down both highways and hopefully gain enough wisdom to get onto the right one and stay on it for the rest of our lives. Choose your road wisely. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

God Our Protector

March 29

(Psalm 35:1-10 NIV) ““Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. {2} Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. {3} Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." {4} May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. {5} May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away; {6} may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. {7} Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, {8} may ruin overtake them by surprise-- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. {9} Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. {10} My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, O Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.””

 At first reading, Psalm 35 does not appear to be a Christ-like prayer. It certainly does not come across as “loving our enemies”. But if you study it further, you see that David is asking God to deal with his enemies. He asks God to defeat them. He asks the Lord to defend him; to contend for him against those who would kill him. In short, David asks God to be a righteous judge and protector. He begs God to thwart the plans of evil men and protect the innocent and the powerless. If you read the Psalm in this light, it takes on a whole new meaning and may even sound like the prayers of many New Testament saints. A day is coming when Christ will take the enemies of God to the woodshed and many will never return. We are called to pray for enemies, but not necessarily for their victory. Prayers that God will deal with our mortal enemies and the enemies of Christ’s Bride are also appropriate. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Benefits of Obedience

March 28

(Psalm 34:17-22 NIV) “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. {18} The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. {19} A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; {20} he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. {21} Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. {22} The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”

Whenever God issues a call, there are always benefits to being obedient. Our God is a delivering God. He delivers us from things that have chained us down and held us captive; our addictions, our fears, our demons. He is a redeeming God. When we take refuge in the Lord, He takes our wasted lives and redeems them like a paper store coupon. God changes the meaning of our past and transforms our present into something of value in His Kingdom. The Lord is our Healer. The crushed and the brokenhearted receive the healing balm of Jesus. He hears our cry. He is the Answer to our pain. Seek the Lord today. He is near and He is waiting with open arms. Come to Him. Blessed are the brokenhearted and the crushed, for God loves you and is calling you to Himself. Will you open your heart and respond to His call today? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Fear = Respect

March 27

(Psalm 34:6-16 NIV) “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. {7} The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. {8} Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. {9} Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. {10} The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. {11} Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. {12} Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, {13} keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. {14} Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. {15} The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; {16} the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”

In Psalm 34 God makes promises to those who “fear Him”. This fear is about respect and obedience. We respect one who has the power of life and death. In David’s time, kings had the power to do whatever they wanted. When you entered the presence of a king, you did so with respect. Fearing the Lord is not in vogue today. In our mouthy republic, we are more likely to bad-mouth those in authority. Besides, people want a user-friendly God. We are looking for a buddy, not a Lord. But when we are in the presence of a God who has our life in His hands, a bit of fear and respect is healthy. David feels that it should keep us from lying and gossiping. It should cause us to turn away from evil things and to do that which is good. This is the God who delivers us from those who seek our demise. This is a God who is attentive to our cries for help. Serve Him. Honor Him. Love Him. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Radiant Believers

March 26

(Psalm 34:5 NIV) “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

(Exodus 34:29 NIV) “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”

(2 Corinthians 3:7-18 NIV) “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, {8} will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? {9} If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! {10} For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. {11} And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! {12} Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. {13} We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. {14} But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. {15} Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. {16} But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. {17} Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. {18} And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

When we begin to look upon the Lord more than we look upon ourselves, our lives begin to shine with the light of God. We become radiant, just as Moses was radiant when he came down from the mountain after being in the presence of God. Self-worship makes us dark and brings shame. Self-worship is turning our whole culture dark, but those who look to the Lord will become radiant. Those who spend time with God on the mountain of glory will shine like stars in this dark world. When God’s Spirit lives in us, we begin to reflect God’s glory. We are transformed as we grow in Christ, and our radiance increases in direct proportion to our surrender to the Holy Spirit. Be filled with His Spirit. Remove the veil from your life today and allow the radiance of God to shine forth in this dark world. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sought or Seeking

March 25

(Psalm 34:4 NIV) “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

(Psalm:34:10 NIV) “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

(Luke 15:4 NIV) "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?"

Two pictures of God’s relationship with man emerge in Scripture. The first is of a Shepherd searching for His lost sheep. God comes looking for us. We see this when God came to the Garden seeking Adam and Eve. We also see it in the shepherd motif found in both the Old and New Testaments. God seeks us and finds us. But another contrasting picture can also be found in Scripture. The Prodigal son ran away from the Father and squandered his inheritance on wild living. The Father did not go after him or hunt him down. He waited and watched for the son to come home on his own. The lost son had to become the seeker. So which is the correct picture of God? Does He seek us or do we seek Him? The answer is, “Yes”. The Lord seeks us out and calls us to follow Him. But He is found by those who seek Him. Seek the Lord, Christian. Never stop. He is seeking you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

God Calling

March 24

(Psalm 34:1-3) “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. {2} My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. {3} Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”

(2 Timothy 2:6-11 NIV) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. {7} For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. {8} So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, {9} who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, {10} but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. {11} And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.”

Every Christian has a calling. Some callings are very specific to the individual. Other callings are general for all Christians. In Psalm 34 we see a general calling. All Christians are called to these things. We are called to extol the Lord; to speak well of God. Lift up His name at every opportunity. Be a name dropper for Jesus. If we are going to boast, we are called to boast in the Lord. This starts in the soul and works its way out in words of continual praise for God. We are also called to glorify the Lord and exalt His name. This is the real purpose of life. Are you still asking the classic questions: Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? The answer is this: We are here to glorify God with our lives. That is our purpose. Extol the Lord, boast in the Lord, glorify the Lord, and exalt His name. This is our calling, Christian. This is your calling. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

We Worship God by Choice

March 23

(Psalms 33:21-22 NIV) “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. {22} May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

(Romans 14:9-12 NIV) ““For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. {10} You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. {11} It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" {12} So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.””

(Philippians 2:9-11 NIV) “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Coerced worship is not worship at all. It can look and feel like worship, but God knows the heart. Genuine worship comes out of a free will that rejoices, trusts, and hopes in God’s holy name. Only then have we entered the land of heart to heart worship. However, a day is coming when every soul will kneel before God. The age of grace will have ended. A day of judgment will have arrived. We will come before God’s throne and account for our life. We will worship him regardless of our eternal fate. Every heart will know. Every knee will bow. Every mouth will confess that Jesus is Lord. Today, we have a choice to make. Then, our time for choosing will be over. You cannot worship a God you do not know. Choose to know the Lord. Love Him today. Who we worship here will determine where we worship for eternity. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

We Worship a Saving God

March 22

(Psalms 33:16-17,20 NIV) “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. {17} A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save… {20} We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”

(Isaiah 25:9 NIV) ““In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.””

Only God can save us. We will realize this as our government crumbles and falls short on its grandiose promises to care for our every need. As our power diminishes and our Armed Forces wane, we will have to confess that no nation is saved by the size of its army. As our strength weakens, we will be forced to trust in God, because in the end, only God can save us. We will cry out to the God we have been systematically deleting from our lives. The God we have been crowding out of our schedules is the only God who will have time for us. After we squander our lives on things that are not of God, He is the One we turn to. After we have invested our time, energy, and money into things that will not last, only the Lord offers us eternity. After we discover that we really can’t save ourselves, we turn to the only One who can. This is a God who deserves our worship. Why wait? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

We Worship an Omniscient God

March 21

(Psalms 33:13-15 NIV) “From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; {14} from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-- {15} he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do…”

(Psalm 147:5 NIV) “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

(1 John 3:19-20 NIV) “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence {20} whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

How do we deal with an entity who knows our every thought? How do we relate to a God who knows everything? The Lord knows what we do and why we do it. He knows our every thought. Here are a few suggestions about how to deal with an omniscient God. Deal with Him honestly because you cannot fool, deceive, or con God. Open your life to God -- He already knows the truth. Fall on your face before God and beg for mercy. Worship this God. Any God who knows our every thought and action, but does not turn us into burnt toast, deserves our worship. How many dishonorable thoughts have you had this week? How many dishonest things have you done? How many lies have you told? How many people have you hurt? God knows, but you are still here. Our God is patient with us. The Lord is full of grace and forgiveness. A God like this deserves our worship. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

We Worship a Blessing God

March 20

(Psalms 33:12 NIV) “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

(Matthew 28:19 NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God blesses nations that worship Him. But in recent days, our nation has turned hostile. God has been written out of our laws and banned on public property. We no longer have one God, but many gods. The blessing of God is played down; human achievement is played up. Faith-based national holidays have been co-opted by consumerism. One by one, institutions founded to bring honor and glory to God (hospitals, colleges, and churches) are selling out to godless thinking. We have turned our backs on God, and we are experiencing the withdrawal of God’s blessing. When a nation spits in the face of God, there are consequences. If we continue to trivialize God and ban the name of Jesus in all things public, the nation will continue to decline. There is only one road back: genuine and heartfelt repentance. It begins right here at home. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

We Worship a Sovereign God

March 19

(Psalms 33:10-11 NIV) “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. {11} But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

(Daniel 7:13-14 NIV) “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. {14} He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

God is sovereign. Life is not just a chain of random chance events. With God, we have a sense that we were created with a purpose. With God, we realize that history is headed somewhere. God knows where that somewhere is. God knows the beginning and the end. He has a plan -- for the universe and for us. His plan will be accomplished. His will, will be done. The chaos we live in, the random events that seem to plague mankind, are indicators of man’s rebellion against God and His sovereign will. God created man to serve and worship Him, but man worships himself. Man does his own thing instead of God’s thing, and he is decimated by the consequences of his bad choices. Fallen humanity struggles against the bit of God’s sovereignty, but history will culminate just as God planned. His kingdom has come. God is sovereign and worthy of our worship today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

We Worship a Creator God

March 18

(Psalms 33:6-9 NIV) “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. {7} He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. {8} Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. {9} For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”

(Colossians 1:15-17 NIV) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

The marvelously complex and vast universe we live in was created by God. The physical laws of the universe that bring order to our existence were created by our Lord. God is the creator of all things, and that includes you and me. You were God’s idea. He chose to create you. That’s why we worship Him. The evolution versus creation debate really boils down to who will be worshipped. If everything in the cosmos just happened, if we did simply evolve from some single-celled creature into all that we see now, then why worship God? Maybe we should worship nature. Some religions do exactly that. Or perhaps we should even worship man himself, as the end result of evolutionary progress. Some people today also do that. But, if God created and sustains the universe, this world, and us -- He is worthy of our worship. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

We Worship a Loving God

March 17

(Psalms 33:4-5,18-19,22 NIV) “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. {5} The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love… {18} But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, {19} to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine… {22} May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

(John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 33 reads like a checklist of reasons to worship God. First and foremost, God is faithful and loving. He loved us before we ever loved Him. He loves us even after we have loved Him and turned away. He is faithful, when we are not. It is in God’s unfailing love that Christians put their hope. His love for us endures our folly and was proven beyond a doubt when He came here to die on a cross for our sins. God did not have to do that. Our Creator could have wiped the slate clean and started over -- but He didn’t. Instead He made the greatest sacrifice of love man has ever known. Jesus provides for us. He cares for us. He loves us. Any God who would do this deserves our worship. “God so loved the world” - and whoever believes in Him will worship Him for eternity. But first, we start by worshipping Him here. Worship the Lord today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Worship in Song

March 16

(Psalms 33:1-3 NIV)  "Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. {2} Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. {3} Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

(1 Peter 2:9) "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light".

The word "worship" comes from two Old English words: weorth, which means "worth"; and scipe or ship, which means “shape” or "quality." You find the Old English word “ship” in modern words like friendship and sportsmanship – the quality of being a friend, or the quality of being a good sport. “Worth-ship”, then, is the quality of having worth or being worthy. When we worship God, we attribute worth to God. We declare that the Lord is of the highest worth to us. One of the ways we can do that is through music. Songs help us free our souls to offer God joyful praise. The music itself is not the worship; it is but a vehicle or a tool to help us get outside ourselves and give expression to what’s in our heart. And to truly worship, our songs must be truthful. We cannot worship God when we lie to Him when we sing. Sing joyfully. Sing truthfully. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Saved AND Discipled

March 15

(Psalms 32:8-11 NIV) “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. {9} Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. {10} Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. {11} Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”

(Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Jesus Christ came to save sinners, but He wants more than just salvation for us. He also came to make disciples. The plan is that we be saved and discipled. Faith is an extended journey, not a trip to the corner Quick Shop. Many today have “given their life to Christ”, but their lives don’t look like it. They have failed to become disciples. Psalm 32 lists several steps to discipleship. The first is prayer; prayer that listens as much as it talks. We must also receive instruction. The twelve called Him Teacher. So should we. Jesus wants to counsel us. He’s into counsel more than control. After all, we are not horses or mules. Part of the reason so many Christians crash and burn is their refusal to accept good counsel. That has to change. We must also learn to worship the Lord. Express your love. Give Him glory. Prayer, instruction, counsel, and worship: four steps to discipleship. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Two Step Plan

March 14

(Psalms 32:1-7 NIV) “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. {2} Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. {3} When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. {4} For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. {5} Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” - and you forgave the guilt of my sin. {6} Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. {7} You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

(Romans 10:9 NIV) “… if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Even in the Old Testament, before Jesus came to Earth; before the Gospels and the Epistles were written; David knew God’s simple plan of salvation. God does not change, so the plan has not changed. The steps to salvation were in place before the Garden fall. The first step is to acknowledge and confess our sin. This is crucial. Our sins have been paid for, but we must recognize those sins before we can accept God’s payment. The second step is faith in Christ. Everyone needs a Savior, but not everyone chooses the right one. Who we place our faith in is important. We need the right hiding place. These two steps lead to blessing and salvation from God. The blessing comes when we stop hiding from God and start hiding in God. When our sins are covered, forgiven, and not counted against us, we are truly blessed. Are you blessed today? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day