July 10
Psalms 107, 111-114
We must never forget who God is and who we are. God never changes, He is constant. We change constantly. His ways are above our ways, His ways are always perfect. So, when God lovingly gives us His love letter to us, His Word, the sixty-six books which make up the Bible, it is not a bunch of suggestions like a self-help manual. It is His never changing word to govern our lives. He gives us commands, not suggestions. He makes statements in black and white, not gray. He says “Do this”, “Don’t do this”, etc. He doesn’t say, “It’s up to you, you can do it either way”.
We read in Psalm 111:7-11, “ All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity. He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has! Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!“. Notice the emphasis on His never ending truth. We then read in Psalm 113:4-6, “ For the Lord is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth.” We see in Psalm 111:9, that “He has paid a full ransom”, and we see in 113:6, that, “He stoops to look down” or “humbles Himself (NKJV)”. We see these truths come true in the person of Jesus Christ.
We read in Philippians 2:5-8, “ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” This is our ransom. This is how God stooped down to save humanity. He has offered us something which would otherwise be impossible. With all this in mind how can we not respond as we continue in 2:9-11, “ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Praise God!!!
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: