My voice shalt thou hear in the morning

Bible Reading: Leviticus 6; Psalm 5&6; Proverbs 21; Colossians 4

Psalms 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Colossians 4:2-4 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

How do you start your day? Do you start it with the radio? Do you start it with the newspaper or with the morning show on television? David started his day with meditation and prayer. In the morning he said he would pray to God and look up. Starting your day with an upward look is a good way to start. You will face many obstacles and temptations throughout your day. To begin the day with a quiet time with God is an important way to be prepared for what is coming.

Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

To seek things above, we ought to look up! Prayer is a way of setting your affection on things above. To read the book that comes from God and direct your prayer to him first thing in the morning will put your heart on heavenly things.

The New Testament tells us to continue in prayer and watch with thanksgiving. When you start your day with prayer, what should you pray for? Prayer should include praise, checking our priorities in life, asking God for provision and things we need, reconciling personal relationships and asking God for protection. (See Matthew 6:9-13) Paul specifically asked the Colossian Christians to remember him in prayer and to pray that God would open a door for the gospel and give him the boldness to speak to unbelievers as he ought to speak.

Do you start your day with a prayer that God's kingdom come? God's kingdom comes as we proclaim the gospel and people believe and are saved. Do you pray for evangelists and pastors? Do you spend time praying for laborers?

Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

There are currently 6.812 billion people on the planet. They all need Jesus. Will you pray for the laborers?

In Christ,

Rody

 

Ye are dead

Bible Reading: Leviticus 5; Psalms 3-4; Proverbs 20; Colossians 3

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

This is not a reality that most people want to embrace. It is not something that gets preached on a whole lot. It is difficult to understand (try explaining this to a young child). And yet this is the truth of a person who is IN CHRIST. The old life is dead and Christ has come to live his life in you. The Christian life is a life of 'already' and 'not yet' in many different areas. Christ is already the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but he has not yet set up his earthly kingdom. The same is true of being dead and having my life hid with Christ in God. Positionally, I am dead. Conditionally, I have to put the old man to death.

Colossians 3:5-7 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

You are dead, but you are told to mortify or put to death your members upon the earth. In other words, you are to kill those old passions that used to rule your life because that is not your life any more. These old, sinful habits are the reason God's wrath comes upon those who do not know Christ. You used to live motivated by those things, but no longer.

You now have a new life in Christ. Your life is hid with Christ in God.

What is this new life like? Well, it is the life of Christ himself. We are in the process of transformation right now. Our minds are being renewed day by day by the Word of God. When the transformation process is complete, we will be like Christ.

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

God is fitting us for glory! Think of the implications of what God's Word is teaching us. We are not told to clean up our old, sinful life. We are told that we are dead to that old life and Christ has given us a new life! We put off the old man and have put on a new man! Christ gives us a completely new life. The key to living for Jesus is to stop living out of the old life passions and habits and let the new life of Christ motivate us. If you try to clean up the old life, you will fail. You must let Jesus live the new life in you!

In Christ,

Rody

I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion

Bible Reading: Leviticus 4; Psalms 1-2; Proverbs 19; Colossians 2

Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

What does God think of all the ungodly things that earthly rulers and kings do in our world today? The second Psalm is an amazing insight into God's mind on the counsels of world rulers.

Psalms 2:1-3 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

The heathen rage and imagine a vain thing. They plot and plan to take over the world. They give no thought to God or his Word in their policy making and their plans for world domination. Matter of fact, they want to get rid of God's binding precepts and create their own. This was written thousands of years ago, but is an accurate description of what is going on in our world today. What is God's response to the raging of the heathen?

Psalms 2:4-5 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

God will laugh at them! He will vex them (or confound their ideas) in his displeasure. God is not impressed with the might and power of man!

What is God's plan? He has set his king upon his holy hill in Zion! God's plan is the KING of kings and the LORD of Lords – Jesus Christ!

Psalms 2:7-9 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

God's king is his only begotten Son. Jesus will be given all people even unto the uttermost parts of the earth as his inheritance. He will rule with a rod of iron and all who oppose him will be dashed to pieces. It is foolish for kings to plot against God. And God gives the kings of the earth council:

Psalms 2:10-12 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Serve the Lord and kiss the Son. The blessed king or judge is the one who puts their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray for leaders of nations and states today.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

In Christ,

Rody