Out on my “prayer run” this morning a little outline for a “Holy Week” sermon came to mind… someone will develop it! Here it is – go for it (Four “R’s”!
Holy Week… A special time to…
Some passages just seem to trumpet the truth… “It pays to serve the Lord! The benefits and blessings of pursuing the will of God and a righteous life are abundant!” Yesterday and today in my Bible reading I read portions of Psalm 37 which clearly proclaim that truth! If you need encouragement to continue pursuing a righteous life Psalm 37 is for you!
Here’s a sampling of what I read…
“The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming…
“Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked… The Lord upholds the righteous!
“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives!
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
“Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever!
“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
“The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land
Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. But… he future of the wicked shall be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble! The Lord helps them and delivers them! He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him!” (From Psalm 37 ESV)
Wow!!! Didn’t I say that it pays to serve the Lord and seek to live in a way that pleases Him? Believe me, that’s the way I want to live!
Thought this morning during “coffee with the Lord” about all my good intentions, passionate declarations, and impulsive commitments over the years… followed by failure! Wanted to just weep and hang my head in shame!
What prompted those thoughts? Reading the story of Peter’s impulsive declaration, when Jesus told his apostolic band right after the institution of the first Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26, “You will all fall away because of me this night! For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”
That prediction really bothered Peter! Impulsively he declared, “Though they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!”
Jesus knew better… He knew human frailty… He knew Peter! He told Peter, “Truly, I tell you this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times!”
Now Peter was really bothered – he became even more determined (and impulsive) … He thought he knew himself better than His Lord. He strengthened his declaration… “Ever if I must die with you I will not deny you!” And then group pressure took over, “And all the disciples said the same thing.” (From Matthew 26:26-35 ESV)
Read the end of the chapter… Peter’s sad and bitter failure… as predicted, three different times! Enough to make a grown man cry… in fact Scripture says, “And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:69-75)
Then I thought of my strong declarations and impulsive commitments when and where I miserably dropped the ball and failed the Lord… And I jotted this in the margin of my Bible, “Without God’s forgiveness, mercy and grace we’re all sunk!”
However, praise the Lord for 1 John 1:8-9! “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us! But if we confess [acknowledge] our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!” And to that I sigh deeply, offer thanksgiving, and worship – Praise the Lord! I’m depending on it, aren’t you? It worked for Peter!
Coffee With The Lord 