Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart” Psalms 15:1-2 (ESV). What is the “holy hill”? The Psalmist, David, is referring to Mt. Zion where the tabernacle (forerunner of the temple) was situated. Inside the tabernacle was the holy of holies where God’s presence was more powerful than anywhere else on earth. So to dwell on the “holy hill” meant to dwell close to the presence of God. This was the most blessed state a person could hope for. So who had the privilege of dwelling close to God? Those who live without patterns of damaging others, who do the right thing and embrace honesty in their heart. Isn’t this what God wants from us? In this way we are lights of the world, for the majority do not live this way. But isn’t this some Continue Reading →

“God is present in the company of the righteous” Psalms 14:5 (NIV) God is everywhere but he is present in different ways in different places. We find this throughout the Bible. God is present in the burning bush, on Mt. Sinai, in the Temple, at the Transfiguration, and at Pentecost. But the last is best for God likes to progressively increase his grace. When the Psalmist wrote Psalm 14 God was more present to his followers than to those who rejected him. He watched them and helped them. But after Pentecost God is now present inside his followers because we replace the Temple. So now God is even present in a single righteous person! But even better than that: “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” Matthew 18:20 (NIV). So when we gather in Jesus’ name his presence is magnified! This is something that Continue Reading →

“The Lord is King for ever and ever,” Psalms 10:16 (NIV). In Psalms 10 the author recounts the ways in which the wicked destroy the innocent and prosper in their ways. Yet the Psalmist also declares that Yahweh is the true king of the earth. He also affirms that God will help the victims and do justice to the wicked. We may not be under attack from the wicked but we feel the impact of the ungodly ways of the people around us. Loved ones turn away from God and ministers mislead their congregations. We can offer help but we cannot stop the destruction. Yet God is king and he will redeem all that is his. He will bring everything to a just and good conclusion. If we are willing to trust his kingship then we can allow him to grace us with mercy and peace. We can let him Continue Reading →

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Psalms 9:9 (NLT) In this world we will have troubles (John 16:33) but God’s promise is that he is our fortress in these times. What kind of fortress would God be? He created the universe with billions of galaxies and trillions of stars. If he is our castle, our defense, when trouble or oppression comes then who or what can break through that defense? Nothing. It is true that God allows suffering in this age of his inaugurated kingdom; he allows this for our Christformation and to shine his goodness to others. We must share in the sufferings of Christ. Yet in all these things, he still preserves us. “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil [one]” (2 Thess. 3:3, NIV). He makes all things work together Continue Reading →

“The Lord has heard the sound of my weeping” (Psalms 6:8, ESV). We don’t have to be consciously communicating with God in order for him to hear us. Of course, he wants us to pour out our hearts to him in conscious prayer and this is our lifeline. But when we abide in Christ then he is our Father who hears us when we cry and that moves his heart. He is like an earthly father who hears his child sobbing in their bedroom and goes to the door to listen for the reason. Will not the father try to rectify the situation in order to relieve the suffering? In the same way our heavenly father hears our tears and they move him to action. Maybe he will rectify the problem or maybe he will comfort us in our pain, reminding us of our ultimate destiny. Either way, he cares Continue Reading →