Category: Righteous

The cries of the needy

Psalm 69 New Living Translation

²²Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare
    and their prosperity become a trap.^[b]
²³Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
    and make their bodies shake continually.^[c]
²⁴Pour out your fury on them;
    consume them with your burning anger.
²⁵Let their homes become desolate
    and their tents be deserted.
²⁶To the one you have punished, they add insult to injury;
    they add to the pain of those you have hurt.
²⁷Pile their sins up high,
    and don’t let them go free.
²⁸Erase their names from the Book of Life;
    don’t let them be counted among the righteous.

²⁹I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

³⁰Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
    and I will honour him with thanksgiving.
³¹For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,
    more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
³²The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
    Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
³³For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;
    he does not despise his imprisoned people.

³⁴Praise him, O heaven and earth,
    the seas and all that move in them.
³⁵For God will save Jerusalem^[d]
    and rebuild the towns of Judah.
His people will live there
    and settle in their own land.
³⁶The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land,
    and those who love him will live there in safety.

Not Alone

Proverbs 23 New International Version

Saying 17

²²Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.
²³Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
²⁴The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
²⁵May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!

Saying 18

²⁶My son, give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,
²⁷for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
²⁸Like a bandit she lies in wait
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Here we learn in verses 24 & 25 about the love and joy a father and mother has for their child, but in verse 26 we learn that if we give our hearts to God he will be with us at all times

God’s Children

Romans 8 New International Version (NIV)

Life Through the Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c]And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

⁵Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Image result for abba father

⁹You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

¹²Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.¹⁵The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[g] Father.” ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Prosperity and Pleasure

Job 36 New International Version – UK

36 Elihu continued:

²‘Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
³I get my knowledge from afar;
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
⁴Be assured that my words are not false;
    one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

⁵‘God is mighty, but despises no one;
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
⁶He does not keep the wicked alive
    but gives the afflicted their rights.
⁷He does not take his eyes off the righteous;
    he enthrones them with kings
    and exalts them for ever.
⁸But if people are bound in chains,
    held fast by cords of affliction,
⁹he tells them what they have done –
    that they have sinned arrogantly.
¹⁰He makes them listen to correction
    and commands them to repent of their evil.
¹¹If they obey and serve him,
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
    and their years in contentment.
¹²But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword^[a]
    and die without knowledge.

The right direction

Proverbs 4 New International Version

¹⁰Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.
¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.
¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶For they cannot rest until they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

I suppose you could call this a follow up on yesterdays blog ‘Seeking Wisdom’. You see if we follow God he will keep us on the straight and narrow as the saying goes.

We are also advised to avoid ‘The wicked’ and everything they do or take part in.

I always read through my bible readings when preparing the blog ad when I read this one I was reminded of the song/hymn ‘The Pathway of Duty ‘

Pathway of Duty

There’s a path that’s sometimes thorny,

There’s a narrow way, and straight;

It is called the path of duty,

And it leads to Heaven’s gate.

While we tread this path of duty,

We will find our needs supplied

From the river of God’s mercy

That is flowing close beside.

By the pathway of duty

Flows the river of God’s grace.

By the pathway of duty

Flows the river of God’s grace.

‘Tis a blessed way and holy,

‘Tis a path of peace and joy;

Though sometimes the way be stony

And the cares of life annoy.

But this path that we call duty

Is the way the Master trod,

And the smile of love and beauty

Lights the way that leads to God.

Let us walk this path of duty

With our faces to the sun,

Carry all our burdens gladly,

Finish well what we’ve begun.

From the river of God’s mercy

That is flowing by the way,

We may drink and find refreshing

For the burdens of the day.

God and Spiritualism

Romans 8 New International Version

Life Through the Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Yesterday I shared this image on Facebook for what it says in the actual image. I read it and shared it in memory of my late father who died in 2011.

At the time of posting the image I never noticed where it came from.

It actually came from the Facebook page of Emma Ryder, Psychic medium and angel guide.

There was feedback on Facebook as I was asked “What was I doing posting an unchristian post on Facebook?” To which I gave the above answer.

Seeking Faith

Hebrews 11 New International Version

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.

³By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

⁴By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

⁵By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”^[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. ⁶And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

⁷By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Keeping us safe

Psalm 31 King James Version

¹⁵My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

¹⁶Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.

¹⁷Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

¹⁸Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

¹⁹Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

²⁰Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

²¹Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

²²For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

²³O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

²⁴Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Peace and Hope

Romans 5 New International Version

Peace and Hope

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

1 Hope for the world’s despair:
we feel the nations’ pain;
can anything repair
this broken earth again?
For this we pray:
in every place
a spark of grace
to light the way.

2 Wisdom for all who bear
the future in their hand,
entrusted with the care
of this and every land.
When comes the hour,
O Lord, we pray,
inspire the way
we spend our power.

3 Honour for all who’ve paid
war’s painful, bitter price,
when duty called they made
the greatest sacrifice.
Their memory
will never cease
to cry for peace
and harmony.

4 Ease for the troubled mind
in endless conflict caught,
each soul that cannot find
the peace beyond all thought.
May they be blessed
with healing balm
for inner calm
and perfect rest.

5 Love for the human heart:
when hate grows from our fears
and inwardly we start
to turn our ploughs to spears.
Help us to sow
love’s precious seed
in word and deed,
that peace may grow.

As the situation between Russia and the Ukraine worsens let us once again offer up our prayers for The Ukraine.

In God’s Hands

Isaiah 41:10-12 New International Version

¹⁰So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

¹¹“All who rage against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
    will be as nothing and perish.
¹²Though you search for your enemies,
    you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
    will be as nothing at all.

It’s probably a good job we don’t know what’s ahead of us for example we didn’t know Covid – 19 was going to raise it’s ugly head towards 2019. A couple of lockdowns on with vaccinations in September 2021 we’re still fighting the virus.

Meanwhile things have been happening else where.

Recently America has pulled their troops out of Afghanistan because of the troubles there, and on top of that New Orleans has been hit by a tornado

I shall not fear though darkened clouds may gather round me;
The God I serve is one who cares and understands;
Although the storms I face would threaten to confound me,
Of this I am assured: I’m in His hands.

I’m in His hands, I’m in His hands;
Whate’er the future holds, I’m in His hands;
The days I cannot see have all been planned for me;
His way is best, you see; I’m in His hands.

What though I cannot know the way that lies before me,
I still can trust and freely follow His commands;
My faith is firm since He it is who watches o’er me;
Of this I’m confident: I’m in His hands.

In days gone by my Lord has always proved sufficient,
When I have yielded to the law of love’s demands;
Why should I doubt that He would evermore be present
To make His will my own? I’m in His hands!