Contrast

Studying contrasts between things and thoughts can be entertaining and highly instructive. You can visit the Himalayan Mountains and become awestruck at the majestic peaks. Then you can go the Death Valley or the Grand Canyon and be amazed at the beauty of the depths. Daily we see the contrasts and the effects of human kindness versus anger and selfishness.

Psalm 95:2-5 says, “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountain are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” It is good to often remember that the God who created the heavens and the earth and still sustains it all, is the same God who created us, loves us and sustains us, as well. God is majestic in His holiness, but also very near to us in His love and grace. Consider how the Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth humbled Himself to become a man and be with us forever, revealing His mercy and eternal love.

Where My Feet Take Me

I had a bad week last week. I tripped and fell four times, prompting a visit to the orthopedist. Nothing was broken, just a badly bruised elbow. As I get older, my feet tend to fail me sometimes. They find obstacles that my eyes do not see. The result is disastrous.

I Samuel 2:9 says, “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.” Efforts to achieve salvation or God’s favor by intellect, strength, or efforts to be good all fail. But He will protect and guide those who love Him and are faithful to Him. With God our steps are secure because He promises to guard them. If we faithfully follow Him, He will lead us in the right paths and make the way for us.

Light Destroys Darkness

I took a physics course in college, where we did experiments with light and sound. We found that light and sound move differently. Light will bounce off most barriers and continue to travel, removing the darkness whereever it goes. Sound is often absorbed by barriers and diminishes in strength as it travels.

Psalm 139:11-12 says, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Even when things seem as bad as they can be, God’s light is available to you as He shines light even when it seems darkest. His light overcomes and destroys the darkness that threatens to overwhelm us. When we trust Him, His light will come to us and remove the darkness that threatens us.

Who Knows You

Who is the person in your life that knows you the best? They have seen you at your best. And they have seen you at your worst. They know your past and understand your present. Sometimes they may know what you are thinking even before you say a word. How does this knowledge of you affect their attitude toward you? Do they move closer to you by knowing more about you, or do they move away?

Psalm 139:1-5 says, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” God knows everything about you, your past, your present, your thoughts, your words, and your future. He knows the way that you should go and goes before and behind you. His hand is constantly upon you to guide and protect you. He is not surprised by anything that makes up who you are. And despite this comprehensive knowledge of you, He loves you. He loves you with an eternal and steadfast love.

In His Sight

To receive rewards, many times we have to be in the right place and in the correct relationship. So to receive airline rewards, we first need to become members in their programs and then spend time in their presence flying on their planes.

Psalm 18:24 says, “So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.” The word “sight” refers to God’s complete knowledge and understanding, as well as what is true in His presence. So we are in a better position to receive rewards from God when we are walking in His presence through righteousness by faith.