Month: January 2024

Tuesday Truth 2024

This year we focused on 52 psalms in the Book of Psalms, which was written by several authors over several years, although many psalms were attributed to have been written by David. The psalms consist of poetry, hymns, and songs of thanksgiving, as well as laments and prayers; all of which were about the relationship between God and His people, and their responses to His presence in their lives. #TuesdayTruth

January 2: The happy man is described as one who avoids the way of wicked people. The tragic folly of the wicked is that they have chosen to neglect the most important thing in life: God. They do not acknowledge that they are his creatures, or that they ought to live for him. They ignore God and choose to live their life without regard of him. The godly man, however, does the exact opposite.
January 9: When David wrote this psalm, he was being persecuted by certain ungodly men who had made a mockery of the LORD. These men loved folly and falsehood. So he said to them, “How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie?”
January 16: The joy radiating from a Christian should stand in stark contrast to the unrest of a typical unbeliever. While not immune to life’s challenges, Christians should take care that the joy of the LORD is both evident and expressed in our everyday life, regardless and especially during times of trial. Rejoice in the LORD!
January 23: Years ago pulpits echoed “hail and brimstone” sermons. Today, not so much. The pendulum has swung. Many churches of today are full of those who prefer sermons about social issues over sermons about sin and the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone. Bottom line, God is merciful and God is love, but He is also just. Punishment awaits the unrepentant sinner who refuses to turn to Christ.
January 30: Rest assured that God will not let oppression go unpunished. It may not be on our timetable but it will most assuredly be on His. In the days of old, He punished the evil Assyrian Empire and the evil Roman Empire for their cruelty to the slaves and to the poor. He cares for the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the abused, and the fatherless in our world today, and will punish evil doers in His perfect timing and plan.
February 6: What do you call a person who’s decided God does not exist? A fool.
February 13: While those who trust in God may appear foolish to those who do not, those who trust in God find refuge in Him no matter what evil comes their way. There’re many differences among people, but they’re not much more than surface deep. This one difference, however, is quite distinct. Charles Spurgeon explains it this way: “Between the two classes, the saved and the unsaved, a great gulf is fixed. There is as wide a difference between the righteous and the wicked as there is between the living and the dead.”
February 20: Sheep are notoriously known to be unwise. They go anywhere and everywhere on their own without a sense of direction. Left to themselves they wouldn’t know where to retire in winter or where to feed in summer. They need a shepherd to guide and protect them. Such are we. No one can truly proclaim that “The Lord is my Shepherd” until he has come to the realization that he is a sinner in need of a Savior. It is in repentance and faith we trust in Christ alone to be our Shepherd; where He leads us beside still waters, restores our soul, in paths of righteousness, and comforts us while we go through life’s valleys.

February 27: The Lord is my shepherd, continued. The promise of His protection in our lives, assurance in times of trial, goodness and mercy here and now and into eternity; for all who have placed their faith and trust in Him.
March 5: In this Psalm David recognizes that the LORD has heard him in his distress; the LORD has assured him that he belongs to the Him. David’s heart speaks from experience. There is no suspense or fear. David trusts the LORD completely and is full of deep emotion towards Him. David can’t help but sing out in thankful song. #TuesdayTruth
March 12: At this point in David’s life, he was tired and sad from endless enemies pursuing him. But, instead of returning violence to those who were violent with him, he chose to calmly trust in God for help. David had the greatest resources: a relationship God and the shield of faith. #TuesdayTruth
March 19: The joy of forgiveness is available to all who come in repentance and faith to Jesus; Jesus, who suffered and died that we might live; Jesus, the only way to God our Father.
#TuesdayTruth
March 26: The Christian life consists and includes things we love to do, and in avoiding things that we understand are not good to do, but there are no chains present. We are free in Christ. I like how Charles Spurgeon explains it: “He who fears God and is wholly God’s servant has no chains about him; he may live as he likes, for he likes to live as he ought.”
#TuesdayTruth
April 2: It’s interesting to know that while we can go weeks without food, we cannot survive without drink. Without water, for example, the body is unable to function correctly and will begin to stop working after approximately three days. So the psalmist mentions a deer, who by nature is known to be a very thirsty animal, and our essential need for water, to direct our focus on our soul’s greatest need: God.

#TuesdayTruth
April 9: The fact that God’s throne is forever and ever is not likely something that an unbeliever thinks about often. The same is true of the fact that His kingdom is a kingdom of justice. Unbelievers generally don’t think or even worry about such matters. Thankfully, “the more we look at Christ, the more there is to see.” (Charles Spurgeon). For anyone who has not yet believed in Christ as God’s only Son, you don’t know the Christ that is spoken of in the Scriptures. Consider Christ today, learn of Him, seek Him, and turn to Him in repentance and faith.

#TuesdayTruth
April 16: In times of trouble and pain, we, who are called by His name, can trust God with our distress. Calling out to God is a form of worship; in doing so we show how we honor Him, how we love Him, and how we trust Him. However, for the non-believer, God does not hear your cries until you have first made the most important call you will ever make; calling out to Him in repentance and faith: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner! Forgive me of my sins. I place my faith and trust in You alone. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and that He rose from the grave three days later.” It doesn’t have to be these exact words, but you must believe these words and somehow convey this to Him from a sincere heart. If you haven’t already done so, why not make that call today? Keep in mind, He’s available to receive calls 24/7 but you are not guaranteed a tomorrow.

#TuesdayTruth
April 23: The whole of Psalm 51 is a restorative prayer of David, which occurred sometime after the prophet Nathan spoke to him concerning Bathsheba. David had good reason to pray to the Lord. David recognized both the depravity of his own sin and the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. David called out to the only One who had the power to clean even the worst of sinners.

#TuesdayTruth
April 30: It’s human nature to try to fix our problems by ourselves, but as Christians, our first reaction should be to give them to the Lord. While “letting go and letting God” doesn’t come naturally, God reminds us that He is there to help us with all our cares and concerns. God is faithful and always does His part; He promises the righteous will be protected. Remembering to bring our burdens to Him and humbly trusting in Him is our part.

#TuesdayTruth
May 7: Fleeing from Saul, David cries out to God for help, in humility and in strength. In humility he pleads for mercy, in strength by faith he trusts that God will be there, even if it’s only His shadow.

#TuesdayTruth
May 14: Cruel and slanderous words that cause deep wounds are not so easily healed. While we, as believers, may bear the scars from sharp trials with those who oppose us with slandering tongues, it is who God saves us from distress when we look to Him for help. The serpent is in the slandering business. God is in the saving business.
May 21: David’s trust was in the Lord alone. The psalmist uses the word, “alone,” to emphasize that David’s trust was only in the Lord, and David rested only in the Lord. In the midst of enemies and trials, David’s foundation was sure.

#TuesdayTruth
May 28: The psalmist speaks of the process of refining silver and compares it to God’s testing process. Silver refinement involves intense heating that brings impurities to the top in order to be removed, with the result of a purer silver. As a child of God, times of testing takes place for everyone of us. In fact, we will not cease from being tested until we get to heaven.

#TuesdayTruth
God knows the condition of our heart, regardless of any favorable appearance we may or may not have, or the good deeds we may or may not do. God reads the secrets of the heart; our sins cannot be hidden from Him.

#TuesdayTruth
June 11: While Psalm 71 is primarily about God’s help in old age, the psalmist reminds us here that even when we were young, God took care of us in our infancy; at a time when we were most unable to care for ourselves. As we grow older into our senior years, we can count on God to guard us, even in the dark days that are already looming before some of us today.

#TuesdayTruth
June 18: David continued to be taught by God all the way into his adulthood. He continually considered God his teacher and he as His student; even and especially as he grew old and during times of trial. David learned with tears through the wonderings of his heart, the truth of His word, the power of sacrifice that puts away sin, and of God’s great mercy.

#TuesdayTruth
June 25: Man needs a guide at all times, lest we wonder into danger. It’s our human nature. Without God we lack foresight, prudence, wisdom, and strength. Life is full of difficulties. All those who fail to look to God for guidance will fail in life both here and forever into eternity. All those who put their trust in God, trust in His word, rely on His providence, and allow Him to guide them through life’s difficulties, make it into eternity, safely in God’s care.

#TuesdayTruth
July 2: This psalm speaks of men who had recently repented and searched for God. Their repentance occurred after they learned that some had died as a result of God’s anger due to their unbelief. Those who repented remembered that He was their rock and redeemer, however they soon fell away. Many are like dull animals that will not go without the whip. Many more of us cannot be kept in line without constant affliction, and all while professing God as our rock and redeemer. Yes, our hearts are prone to wonder, however if our repentance is sincere, we will not wonder for long.

#TuesdayTruth
July 9: This psalm begins with a plea to God to take notice of a pending attack against the nation of Israel, and for him not to be quiet. This first verse is actually the beginning of a song about their strong desire for God to give them victory over their enemies. It’s a prayer to God to speak out against those who wish to destroy them, and that God will acknowledge that their enemies are also God’s enemies.

#TuesdayTruth
July 16: While Christians are called to love our enemies, we are not commanded to love God’s enemies, nor are we commanded to hate God’s enemies. At first thought this may seem confusing but the goal here is to have both righteous indignation against God’s enemies mixed with a tender spirit of love for God’s enemies. It’s a delicate balance that requires the love of God in our heart and in our mind.

#TuesdayTruth
July 23: This psalm is a cry of desperation and an example of preserving prayer at work in the life of a believer. Written by Heman the Ezrahite during a particularly hard time in his life, it gives us an example of what we should do when we go through hard times: cry out to God day and night, even if it seems that God is not hearing our prayers.

#TuesdayTruth
July 30: I think the key word here is dwell. There are some who seem happy enough just to come and go as they go about their everyday life. However, it is those who dwell and abide in Christ that receive choicer favors than those who just come and go: The person who abides in Christ and His Word abides in him. The person who considers prayer a privilege and a matter of enjoyment. The person who dwells in the “secret place,” living near Him, in the shadow of the Almighty.

#TuesdayTruth
August 6:
Evildoers boast of their evil deeds, as they go about crushing the widows and  murdering the fatherless, as if there were no God holding them accountable for their actions. Woe to those who simultaneously choose to both deny His existence and reject His offer of forgiveness of sin and eternal life. 


#TuesdayTruth 

August 13: Psalm 95 speaks both of worship and a warning. It begins with encouraging believers to enter into his presence with thanksgiving, to shout joyfully, and sing triumphantly to him! He’s the maker of heaven and earth! He is our Maker! He is our God and we are his people, like sheep in the care of the Good Shepherd. However, he calls all of us to examine ourselves. To the unbelievers he urgently warns them not to harden their hearts toward him. To the believers, who live side by side with unbelievers, he urgently reminds us that we are to be praying for them; that God may bring them to his feet and save them by his grace. 


#TuesdayTruth
August 20:
The gospel invitation is an invitation to everlasting joy in the LORD: “Come and find peace, rest, joy, and all your souls can desire. Come and eat what is good and let your soul delight!” Only believers in Christ can know this kind of joy. Only believers can sing this kind of song! If you’re not yet a believer, turn to him in repentance and faith today; you too can sing a new song! 🎶 


#TuesdayTruth
August 27:
Psalm 100, one of the most well known psalms, reminds us that there is but one God. He is the God of both the Old Testament and the New Testament; he is Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He bought us with his precious blood. We, who are called by his name, are to make a joyful noise unto him and  serve him with gladness! 


#TuesdayTruth
September 3:
The good things that brought the satisfaction that David is referring to are not tangible goods. A look at the preceding verses best describes his perspective: 


Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and all that is within me, 
bless his holy name! 
Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and forget not all his benefits, 
who forgives all your iniquity, 
who heals all your diseases, 
who redeems your life from the pit, 
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. Psalm 103:1–4 


The satisfaction that David is referring to, the richest man has not found,
the greatest conqueror has never won, and the proudest emperor cannot command or even begin to comprehend. 


The satisfaction that David is referring to is a spiritual blessing, a Devine grace that comes from Almighty God, who is himself all sufficient, and the only One who can sufficiently fill the human heart. 


#TuesdayTruth
September 10: (My 70th Birthday 🎂)
It’s quite an extraordinary thing to know that the moment we come to faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven; past, present, and future. God takes our sins to an infinite distance. Our sins become so removed from us that we will not ultimately suffer any loss, although we were, in fact, the guilty party, Christ took the punishment for our sins in our place. Extraordinary. Miraculous. Blessed. 


#TuesdayTruth
September 17:
The depravity of man is such that we’re born with hearts that are deceitful and desperately wicked; we’re under the influence of sin and controlled by our own sin nature. Even the “good” things we do are seen as “filthy rags” to God. Many people hold on to some sort of hope that they’re “good enough” to go to heaven when they die. Spiritually they are in a wilderness. They’re hungry and thirsty for the things of this world, when what they really need is the LORD. Thank God for the troubles that He sends our way that brings us to our knees, and to the end of ourselves. It’s only when we see ourselves as a sinner in need of a savior, crying out to the LORD in repentance and faith, that one has the assurance of heaven. Thank God for the gift of repentance and faith. He rescues us from our distress and redeems us from the power of the evil one. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1


#TuesdayTruth
September 24:
This verse presents Melchizedek as a type of Christ, which is also repeated in the book of Hebrews, where both Melchizedek and Christ are considered kings of righteousness and peace. This verse specifically reminds us that it is the oath of God that established our Lord both in his priesthood and in his throne. 
Charles Spurgeon reiterates this with these words: “Jesus is  sworn in to be the priest of his people, and he must abide so even to the end because his commission is sealed by the unchanging oath of the immutable Jehovah.” This oath still stands today and will stand throughout all eternity. Jesus is a priest forever. 


#TuesdayTruth
October 1:
It’s been said that somebody once told John Bunyan that he had preached a delightful sermon and that he quickly replied, “You’re too late. The devil told me that before I left the pulpit.” 
John Bunyan wittingly stated that a preacher who is quick to take credit for his sermon, is a preacher who is quick to take the glory that belongs to God. 
The Holy Spirit teaches Christ followers what we should say and what we should do, but beware, Satan is skilled in teaching us how to steal God’s glory. 
Whether a preacher in a pulpit, a Christ follower sharing the gospel, or a Christian serving God in some capacity, whatever we do should always be done in such a way so as to bring attention to God and to glorify Him, and never ourselves.  


#TuesdayTruth
October 8:
The overall theme of Psalm 118 is about giving thanks to the Lord, “for He is good,” “His steadfast love endures forever,” ”He is for us,” “He has become my salvation,” and, “He answers our prayers.” He answers our prayers according to His will. His answers include “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait.” Verse 21 reminds us that our prayers, regardless if He has blessed us with good things or not, should always include praise for Him.  He is the Lord God Almighty. He is equally God no matter our circumstance. 


#TuesdayTruth 
October 15:
I think Psalm 119:9 is one of the most important truths we can teach our children and grandchildren in their youth. While reading the Bible is good, and studying the Bible is better, the best of all is heeding the Bible and looking to God for His direction in your life. This truth cannot be understated. Without a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and His word in your life you will most certainly lose your way. Passions, temptations, and the folly of youth are a volatile combination of emotions. Charles Spurgeon reminds us that “God’s word is a continual lamp to our feet and a constant light on our path.”  Commit to let God and His word guide your steps in life. 
October 22:
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is particularly rich with praise for God and instruction on how we should live. I also like the fact that Psalm 119 appears to be at the very center of the Bible, which’s is indicative of balance and order. Verse 57 is an example of a carefully structured order. It presents a perfect order in which blessing and duty are to be expressed. The psalmist declares the LORD is his portion; he has been blessed by having a relationship with God, and therefore his gratitude is expressed in his resolve to keep God’s word. In other words, the Lord must first be our Lord before we will ever be able to keep his word. 
October 29:
This Psalm isn’t saying that God won’t build a house without our labor, or that He won’t guard the city without the watchman’s staying awake. However, it is reminding us that we’re to do everything we possibly can with every available resource when we set out to do a work. We’re not to be lazy and say we’re trusting in Providence to get it done. Everyone needs to do their part. In other words, and according to 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 


#TuesdayTruth
November 5:
As we grow as Christians the more aware we become of unholiness, the further away we wish to distance ourselves from it. It is the forgiveness of God that leads us to both love and fear Him; a love born out of our realization of the undeserving mercy He’s given us, and a fear born out of the realization of His forgiving love for us. True fear of God doesn’t rise out of judgment, but out of His forgiving love. Because we are forgiven and so loved, we fear that we might somehow offend Him. This is the true fear of God, a holy filial fear.

#TuesdayTruth

November 12:
As soon as David had built himself a palace, he longed more so to build a palace for his God.  However, he soon realized that there is no place better than the one that God Himself had already designed. The one true dwelling place for God is in Jesus Christ, for the “fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ (Colossians 2:9) and in whom all believers are also drawn together with God through the help of the Holy Spirit. 


#TuesdayTruth
November 19:
God is worthy of our highest praise, regardless of whatever circumstances we find ourselves in today. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is good. He is faithful. He comforts us in our sorrow. I praise Him for His greatness and I thank Him for His goodness. His faithful love endures forever. 
November 26:
This psalm depicts the essence of the grace of God in three confidences: First, the confidence that the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. Second, the confidence that His faithful love will endure forever. And third, the confidence in Him, expressed in prayer, that He will not abandon the work of His hand in our life. 


#TuesdayTruth 
December 3:
David boldly declares that God not only knows everything about him but that God has searched him to the point that there are no secrets; God sees and knows him intricately and completely. God is all-knowing and ever-present. 


#TuesdayTruth
December 10:
David precedes this heartfelt Psalm in acknowledgement and praise of God for knitting him together in his mother’s womb, establishing the fact that all of his days were planned before he was even formed. He goes on to proclaim that even if he could count the number of God’s thoughts toward him, they would outnumber the grains of sand. It’s mind boggling to think even if we could count the sand on the seashores, we still could not count all the precious thoughts of God concerning us! 


#TuesdayTruth 
December 17:
God provides the rain and causes crops and grass to grow, not only for our benefit but for all creatures great and small. Even the birds sing praises and lift their praises to Him.  How much more He cares for us who have placed our hope in His faithful love. How much more we should praise Him for all that He has done for us and for all that He is: the King of kings and the Lord of lords! 


#TuesdayTruth 
December 24:

While the entire book of Psalms is about praising God, the very last chapter appropriately concludes with five “Hallelujah Psalms.” The last of which proclaims “Let everything that breathes praise the LORD Hallelujah!” (Psalm 150:6) So, how is it that God takes pleasure in us? One way is in the prayers of His people. Apart from our prayers there’s nothing in us worth taking pleasure in unless He has put it there. If He sees any beauty in us, it is the reflection of His own face.  Christians are all works in progress. Whatever grace we have, whatever repentance we have, and whatever faith we have, are all varying stages of sanctification that will one day be made perfectly perfect in Him! 

#TuesdayTruth