Columbia River, Washington and Oregon
24 God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Notice there are two words “spirit” and “Spirit” in this passage. The Spirit (upper case) refers to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. The spirit (lower case) refers to our human spirit. God gave us a spirit, soul and body. So we could use our spirit to worship and contact God who is Spirit.
Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
Sunrise over the Dead Sea, Israel
Yet it is God’s intention that His Word would also be established on the earth. There seems to be no problem with the acceptance of God’s word in heaven. In heaven there is no opposition to God’s word. In heaven His will is done. Now on the earth we have some problems due to sin and Satan. On earth there is a battle , in heaven no battle.
Let’s continue on to verse 101, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” Again the Word is something to keep. Verse 103, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
The Word of God is something sweet to our taste. Verse 105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Here we see that the Word of God is light to us; it tells us where to go. It shows us where to go. Verse 107, “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.” Again we see that the Word give us life.
I really like this next verse, verse 130, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Notice it doesn’t just say, “The reading of Thy word gives light”, or, “The study of the Word gives light”. You do need to read the Word and study the Word, but this verse says, “The entrance of Thy word gives light”. This passage always reminds me of John 6. Jesus was speaking to the disciples, there. He was talking about Himself being the bread of life that came down from Heaven.
At the end of that portion He says in verse 63, “…The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” In order for the Word of God to have entrance into us, first of all, our heart has to be prepared to listen to the Word. Secondly, we need to have the attitude that we are going to obey the Word of God. The Word of God needs to be spirit and life to us because when it is spirit and life it can enter into our hearts.
Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
Papua New Guinea, Menya River
The photo is from Brian Chapaitis. He and his wife are enjoying and serving the people of Papua New Guinea. Their web site is at: bchapaitis.org
Brian Chapaitis writes: On a business trip traveling from Port Moresby the capitol city, to the Aiyura Valley where we live, our small Kodiak aircraft winging to the north. One never ceases to marvel at the beautiful terrain of the countryside. Here we see the classical shapes produced by endless water erosion, creating the rounded ridge-lines, so common in Papua New Guinea. We receive much rainfall throughout the year. North of Menya, Morobe Province, May 2012.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
— Psalm 16:11
red tree near lake
At this point Hannah went home and left the boy at the temple with Eli. Verse 11, “And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child (Samuel) did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.” The boy, Samuel, is learning how to serve the Lord in that environment. In verse 18 we read that Samuel ministered to the Lord, “But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child…” Samuel was learning how to minister to the Lord in the temple. Verse 21 says, “And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.”
This reminds me of a verse in the book of Luke concerning the Lord Jesus. God sent His Son into the world and yet for the first thirty years He had a private time with His family and was not involved in any public ministry. In Luke 2:40 we read of Jesus, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” He was growing and waxing strong in spirit. I don’t believe this means that Jesus was just growing physically or psychologically. I believe this means that He was growing in favor with God and man, and growing into what God wanted Him to do in His later years.
I have much to learn about golf. This golf putting green was at Christina Lake, Canada.
Drew learning golf at Christina Lake, Canada
I Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Sailboat – Christina Lake, B.C., Canada
Sunset Over Water
The best Bible verse on this subject is: 1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; For his lovingkindness endures for ever. Our kindness and love seems to have limits, but God does not have limits. He is God, the creator of the heavens and earth and is full of energy.
The Bible verse is Matthew 6:33, But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow:….
Pray and Seek the Kingdom – California Beach
John Calvin talks about “restraining excessive anxiety”. Of course, excessive anxiety can arise in many areas of life such as money, time, relationships, work or societal issues.
John Calvin says: But rather seek first the kingdom of God. This is another argument for restraining excessive anxiety about food. It argues a gross and indolent neglect of the soul, and of the heavenly life. Christ reminds us that there is the greatest inconsistency in men, who are born to a better life, being wholly employed about earthly objects. He who assigns the first rank to the kingdom of God, will not carry beyond moderation his anxiety about life. Nothing is better adapted to restrain the wantonness of the flesh from breaking out in the course of the present life, than meditation on the life of the heavens. The word righteousness may be either understood as applying to God, or to the kingdom: for we know that the kingdom of God consists in righteousness, ( Romans 14:17 ,) that is, in the newness of spiritual life. All other things shall be added. This means, that those things which relate to the present life are but favorable appendages, and ought to be reckoned greatly inferior to the kingdom of God. – from the John Calvin Commentary.
Remember God’s Promises – Two trees, lake and mountains in Idaho
The Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Unfortunately God’s people at that time were not happy with God or themselves. They had no faith in God that He could deliver them. So they doubted God, and only had “evil” thoughts about God, His plan and His purpose.
God still remembers His plan, purpose and promises towards the nation of Israel. God’s plan had not changed, but their thoughts about God did. So let’s remember God’s promises.
Look at God’s promise in this Bible verse in Deuteronomy 30:1 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.