Choice

Those who cling to worthless idols

 forfeit the grace that could be theirs.                  Jonah 2.8

This wonderful line is contained in Jonah’s prayer of remorse. He may have spoken it from a deeply personal perspective. I think there is a trace of this, for Jonah backed away from the task that God set for him. More than this, he made positive moves to head in the opposite direction. But God, of course, caught up with him. And Jonah’s response is contained in the words of his prayer.

Certainly Jonah acted in a way that would forfeit God’s grace to him. And the message is applicable to all, at all times in the history of mankind. Everyone has a god. For some it is the Lord God. For others it may be different things – material possessions, social standing, public acclaim, or political power.

In truth, all these things are worthless compared to seeking out, and living in true and deep relationship with God.

The grace of God can overwhelm. It can repair and restore. God’s grace will always build up, never tear down. God’s grace is the most real manifestation of His love. I am whole in God’s grace. I am secure and confident. I have purpose. I am loved, and I am truly able to love.

Lord God,

I thank You that Your grace is extended to me. I receive it humbly and without familiarity. I pray for those who need to know Your grace, who need to receive Your grace and abide in it.

As surely as You looked after Jonah, I know Your heart is for all people. Lord, I pray for my family. Touch them with Your grace. Bring a life-long response of acceptance from them. Join them to You and grow us into a wonderful, loving and strong Christian witness.

I ask this in Jesus’ name.          Amen.

Well watered

Let my teaching fall like rain 

and my words descend like dew, 

like showers on new grass, 

like abundant rain on tender plants.          Deut. 32.2

Moses is speaking. He has called together the whole assembly of Israel. As he begins his address to them, he starts with a prayer that his teaching might be blessed.

He prays that his teaching will have the effect that water brings to growing plants. It feeds them, it nourishes them, it nurtures them. Likewise, Moses prays that his teaching will feed and nourish and nurture the Israelites.

What will his teaching be?

         “I will proclaim the name of the LORD. 

Oh, praise the greatness of our God! 

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, 

and all his ways are just. 

A faithful God who does no wrong, 

upright and just is he.”           (vv3,4)

Moses’ teaching on God’s goodness contrasts greatly and dramatically with the behaviour of the Israelites. This “Song of Moses” shows the marked difference between God’s faithfulness and the gross unfaithfulness of the Israelites.

The way of the world today is much like the way of the Israelites. Each does his/her own thing and God is rejected, set-aside, ignored.

         Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; 

filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. 

He abandoned the God who made him 

and rejected the Rock his Saviour.             (v15)

Too many of today’s population are like Jeshurun. O that I might speak to people as Moses spoke to the Israelites. And I think the prayer that Moses voiced would be the one I would echo, for I know that my words would not have the right effect unless they were presented, and received, in the appropriate way. This is where I identify the powerful allegory of rain. I pray that my words would fall on the ears of the hearers as the gentlest of rain falls on the thirsty ground and plants. A thunderstorm does not achieve the required result, but gentle, soaking rain feeds the ground, nourishes the plants, and yields a healthy harvest. This would be my earnest desire – to speak of the Lord and bring people into His presence to experience His amazing love, to connect with Him and commune with Him in the deepest, on-going relationship.

Lord God,

Right now, my heart is on my sleeve. I want to touch people with You. I want to reach them for You. My desire is to share You. The love that I have and experience in You I want to spread.

O Lord, this world is so in need of You. I want to be used by You. Please hear my prayer. Please give heed to my request. Please use me in faithful service to You.                Amen.

My song

The Lord is my strength and my song; 

he has become my salvation. 

He is my God, and I will praise him, 

my father’s God, and I will exalt him.                 Exod. 15.2

Moses leads the Israelites in a wonderful psalm (The Song of the Sea, Exod. 15.1-18) of praise and thanksgiving to God. He is their true God, the God of salvation, the God of deliverance, the God of provision and healing.

As the Israelites made a hurried escape from Egypt, the powerful Egyptians decided to follow and recapture, reclaim their servants of bondage.

         The enemy boasted,

         “I will pursue, I will overtake them.

I will divide the spoils;   

I will gorge myself on them. 

I will draw my sword 

and my hand will destroy them.”                (v9)

But God was protecting Israel. With the mere blowing of His breath, the sea covered the forces – the great forces – of Egypt.

         They sank like lead in the mighty waters.   (v10)

Indeed this is worthy of the praise of the people.

         Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? 

Who is like you – 

majestic in holiness, 

awesome in glory, 

working wonders? 

You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.

                                                                        (vv 11,12)

God had saved His people. But the story does not end there. He had rescued them so that He may lead them into a holy dwelling place, a place where they might live with Him in love and plenty.

         

In your unfailing love you will lead 

the people you have redeemed.

 In your strength you will guide them 

to your holy dwelling.             (v13)

God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is faithful and fully true to His Word. What He did for the Israelites He can do for me. He loves me, He is with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He is for me. I pray He will lead me out of a painful worldly situation into sweet communion with Him in His holy dwelling.

Lord God,

I am mindful of You all around me. As I sit in this pleasant morning sun, warm and relaxed, I hear the sounds of birds and insects, and I feel You are reminding me that You are here. Your hand is in everything. I thank You. I praise You. I exalt You. You are the mighty God. You are my God and Lord.

Holy heavenly Father, I thank You for rescuing me. You have saved me from all manner of evil. You have protected me from myself. You are my deliverer. I pray You will keep me safe. Protect me from that which is not of You.

Lead me, precious Saviour, further and further into You. I ask You to guide me to Your holy dwelling. Bring me to the mountain of Your inheritance. Let me enter Your dwelling, and abide in Your sanctuary.

Gracious, loving Father, receive my love. Take me and consecrate me into Your service. Draw my will into oneness with Your will. May Your name be hallowed in the whole of my life. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, in and through me

                  in Jesus name I ask.                 Amen.

Over all

Let them praise the name of the LORD, 

for his name alone is exalted; 

his splendour is above the earth 

     and the heavens.                Psalm 148.13

The previous verses have covered the whole order of creation. This verse brings all together and places them in praise of the Lord God.

God alone is the exalted one. He created all things and all things bow before Him in praise and adoration.

God’s splendour, his glory is greater by far that anything that may be seen in creation yet, as I look at the wonders of His work, it is so easy to sing out to Him in praise. I can envisage the whole earth rejoicing in its maker, bringing a sweet harmony in the most natural and free way.

I add, sadly, that my views embrace the minimum penetration of man – mere suggestions of habitation through the glimpses of rooftops that intrude into the wonderful vistas. It seems that where man is less obvious the whole of nature applauds the wonder of the Creator. Man, the acme of God’s creation, sadly does not cry out in praise with the same freedom and jubilation as the rest of the universe.

Lord God,

I am so aware today of the salute of nature to Your glory, Your creative genius and Your headship. I am also aware that man trails – badly and sadly – in his acknowledgement and acclamation of You. 

Hear my sad cry of regret at man’s foolish action. Receive my prayer for a re-awakening in mankind of awareness of You, of acknowledgement of Your headship and of submission to You in love and in the deepest desires to serve and please You. 

Let this move start with me. I salute You, I marvel at You. I love You. Hallelujah!                   Amen.

Praise

I will praise the Lord all my life; 

I will sing praise to my God 

as long as I live.                              Psalm 146.2

Right now it is easy for me to sing praise to my God. I am looking out over an azure blue sea. The only sounds that are intruding into my reverie are the calls of some birds to my right and the sound of the sea breaking on the shore to my left. The scene is idyllic, absolutely perfect. I have enjoyed the most wonderful night’s rest and my whole body is relaxed and totally at peace. I am aware of God’s presence all around me. I raise my head to see the merest patch of white cloud in a blue sky. It’s as if God is saying,“Yes, I’m here.”

But my God is not confined to seemingly perfect days, nor occasional touches of heaven in a grey world. He is familiar with grey. As we allow Him, He inhabits the grey and changes it into a variety of colours for us. This is reality. This present scene of delight and perfection may pass, but my God will always be there ready to comfort, sustain, strengthen and love me. Will I be equally ready to receive, acknowledge and praise Him?

Lord God,

I thank You for this glorious morning and this wonderful setting. I sense we are going to enjoy a great day.

It is easy to praise You in such circumstances. I pray that I might also praise You at all times and in any and every situation.

If it is a choice, then I choose, Lord, to ever praise You. Should I need Your help, I ask for it. My desire is to live my life knowing You, to praise You in all things, to know You in all, to abide in You completely.

I love You, Lord. I praise You. O, I praise You.              Amen.

Near

The LORD is near to all who call on him, 

to all who call on him in truth.                         Psalm 145.18

The Hebrew for ‘near’ is qarob-kaw-robe (sorry for lack of accents, my computer won’t show them to me). It means ‘allied’. The American Heritage Dictionary describes allied as:

1.    Joined or united in a close relationship.

2.    Of a similar nature.

I am reminded that I am created in God’s image. Before sin, I was endowed with His nature. I am indeed related to Him.

And as I call on Him, He draws me into a close relationship with Him.

God is spirit and truth. In calling to Him I must call in truth. I need to exercise godly integrity. He hears me all times. I pray I may always call on Him with godly integrity.

Lord God,

I come before You with praise and thanksgiving. I open my heart and call out to You in integrity and faith.

You are my maker and guide. You are my master and friend, my father, my mentor, my inspiration and my lover.

I call on You, sweet Lord.

I seek Your closeness to me. I pray You will join me to You in the closest relationship. Let me know one-ness with You.

I dare to hope that I might become a friend of God. Not only do I hope this, I also dare to believe it.

Draw me near to You today, my Lord. Infuse me with Your Spirit. Impregnate me with Your very being. And let me not contain this to myself, but share it wonderfully abroad. In Jesus’ name I ask.                  Amen.

Teach me

Teach me to do your will, 

for you are my God; 

may your good Spirit 

lead me on level ground.                  Psalm 143.10

Hear, it is in God’s Word! The psalmist asks God to teach him to do the will of his maker. This delights me. I so want to do the will of God. There are times when I can be reasonably confident of what His will is for me. But there are other times when I yearn for a singular leading, yet nothing is sure.

There are times when I hesitate to ask God to show me, feeling that I should already know. Today, the psalmist encourages me. I sense it is right – indeed it is good – to ask God to teach me to do His will, at any time. I am reminded again of His word to ask and you will receive.

And may His good Spirit lead me on level ground. Level ground is where the going is smooth and free from the danger of falling (Ps. 26.12)

         Every valley shall be raised up, 

every mountain and hill made low;   

the rough ground shall become level, 

the rugged places a plain.                 Isa. 40.4

Lord God,

I thank You for this word of enlightenment and encouragement today. I echo the psalmist as I ask You to teach me to do Your will, to do only what You would have me do. Yet it often seems so difficult to discern what this might be! 

Teach me, dear Lord. Teach me and lead me. Lead me by Your good and Holy Spirit. I pray for level ground where I might know the power, wonder and joy of almighty God, and see Your power at work all around me.

Precious Father, teach me to do Your will.            Amen.