My Psalm for today is Psalm 102:12-13. Reading from The Message.
Yet you, God, are sovereign still,
always and ever sovereign.
You'll get up from your throne and help Zion�
it's time for compassionate help.
"Whoever is in a moderate degree acquainted with the sacred writings, will readily acknowledge that whenever we are besieged with death, in a variety of forms, we should reason thus: As God continues unchangeably the same--'without variableness of shadow of turning'--nothing can hinder him from aiding us; and this he will do, because we have his word, by which he has laid himself under obligation to us, and because he has deposited with us his own memorial, which contains in it a sacred and indissoluble bond of fellowship."
(Commentary from Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms)
"Pure Things for the Pure"
Titus 1:15
Reading from the English Standard Version:
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
There's a possibility that the false teachings that were being dealt with on Crete were similar to those Timothy faced in Ephesus, some of which dealt with abstaining from eating certain foods. Again, Paul declares all things pure for "the pure." Jesus has declared all foods clean, so there is no longer any need for legalistic regulations regarding foods. "Ritual purity is no longer a concern for those in Christ Jesus, for the kingdom of God has been inaugurated, and this kingdom 'is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.' (Rom. 14:17)"
Individuals are free to choose which foods are suitable for them, but they are not free to impose their personal choices on others.
"Why the Curse?"
Deuteronomy 12:28
Reading from the English Standard Version
Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.
Why did Christ have to die to redeem us from the curse of the law? Galatians 3:10 says, For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, �Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.� We were under a curse because we did not perfectly obey the Law of God.
"The curse falls on everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Law."
God is God. He is the Creator. Each of us depends on him for life and breath. He has the absolute right to establish the "rules of the game." So there is no crying "No fair!" to God. But even if his standards are impossible (and they are), he has graciously given us an "out." He has given us Jesus. So to anyone who cries, "No fair!" I say to you, "Yes! Fair!!" The solution is suprisingly simple. All we have to do is trust in Jesus Christ.
I also thank you that your kingdom is not concerned with what I eat and drink. It is only righteousness, peace, and joy, and all of these things are abundantly available in Christ. All glory and honor to you!
I pray for our troops and for their safety and protection. It looks like more are being sent to Afghanistan, per this request from the PPT site:
Pray for the safety of American troops as more are deployed into combat in Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday that he has ordered the deployment of as many as 3,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan to meet what the top commander there has described as pressing security needs. The additional troops, who Gates said were requested by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, are not part of units designated to be deployed under President Obama's original orders to send 21,000 more service members to Afghanistan this year.
I pray for our nation in this hostile world today. I pray for protection for all of you people in the world Keep us safe in you, and when we face death and destruction, I pray that our souls be ushered into your presence quickly. How I look forward to the day when I will be eternally with you, my God!
Grace and peace, friends!