Best Verse: Psalm 58:11 “And men will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth!’”

OUR GOD

Psalm 58 spends ten verses talking about how God will judge the unrighteous, how He will defend His people.  And then in verse 11, the last verse of the chapter, we have today’s verse.  The end result of God’s actions is this.  Men will know there is a God.

I was meditating on that verse and realized it is the same today.  Men only recognize God because of His actions in this world in the lives of His saints. When God works in our lives, people can see it.  We must be careful to give Him all the praise.  We must point others to Him when they want to give us recognition or glory.

TEACHING MOMENT

When you see the Lord working in the lives of your children, make sure you tell them.  As they grow in their faith, they will have ample opportunities to thank the Lord.  They will have chance after chance to tell others, “This is all because of Jesus.”  

It is so important that they do that. We never want them to think they have accomplished anything without the Lord.  It is He who gives them the wisdom and strength to succeed.  He is the One who directs them.  He is the One who walks with them through life.  When we are quick to give Him credit, He is blessed.

Is that you?  Do you point others to Him when they want to congratulate you? I pray that you will be a spokesman for Christ today.  I pray you will tell others that it is Christ in you.  It is nothing about you.  Boast in Him.

Lord, I am nothing without You.  I can only succeed because of You.  I praise You for working in and through my life.

Best Verse: Psalm 57:2 “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.”

GOD MOST HIGH

Did I just make that word up? Accomplisher?  What else would you call someone who accomplishes something? That’s what God does.  He accomplishes all things for us.  But what exactly does that mean?  The Hebrew word for “accomplishes” is gamar.  Interestingly enough, this word ONLY occurs in the book of Psalms. It means to complete or bring to an end.

So, God is our completer.  He finishes stuff.  He brings it to its finality.  Do you understand that?  We don’t have to do it.  He does. He does what we cannot do.  He is with us to the end to ensure things are finished.

TEACHING MOMENT

What a great verse for our children! Children are notorious for starting stuff and not finishing.  The next time you see a half- finished project your little Susie started, use that opportunity to talk about this verse.  In fact, look at all five times this word is used (Psalms 7:9; 12:1; 57:2; 77:8; 138:8). 

Let them see how God finishes things. If we are to be like God in our lifestyle, then we should be accomplishers too.  We should complete things.  We should finish things.  Projects are one thing, but we should make sure we complete things as they relate to others.  We want to represent Christ well.

If you have the habit of starting and not finishing something, it can give you a bad reputation among your friends and coworkers.  No one wants to have to come behind you and finish what you started.  Be like God.  Complete things.  Finish things.  And as you accomplish that next task, give God all the credit.  Thank Him for the wisdom to be like Him.

O Great Finisher, give me the tenacity to finish what I start. Help me represent You well.  I want to be known as someone who is dependable and loyal, even to the very end.

Best Verse: Psalm 54:4 “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.”

ALWAYS

Have you ever had a big chore to do and just needed a little help?  Boy, I have. My wife and I moved a few years ago and did it ourselves.  Most of the stuff we could move ourselves, but there were a few items that we just could not handle.  One piece, in particular, had to go upstairs.  I enlisted my son and some of his buddies to help.  Thank the Lord for strong backs.

God knows we can’t do it alone. He never expected us to.  He is our helper.  And He is also our sustainer.  He not only helps, but He stays with us.  He keeps our soul safe.  He protects and guards us.  That’s what I call a trusted friend.

TEACHING MOMENT

Does your little Susie have a close friend, a BFF?  My daughter has about a dozen BFF’s.  A “Best Friend Forever” will stick with you.  I am sure your child has one or two of those.  If not, they will.  They are the kind of friend who will stick with them through thick and thin.  

But as good as that friend is, they can’t always be there.  That’s the lesson for today.  Teach your child that God will ALWAYS be there.  He is there to help them navigate those difficult times.  He is the One who strengthens them when they get weary. But, just like their BFF, they have to spend time with Him to get to know Him.  Show them how to do that through a consistent quiet time and prayer.

Are you doing that?  You can’t teach what you aren’t living.  You can fake it for a while, but your lack of quality time with your Lord will reveal itself in your daily walk.  Your children will see that.  Instead, come to the Helper.  Come to the Sustainer.  He is waiting.

Helper and Sustainer, I need You in my life.  I need to spend time with You, so I can know You better.  I thank You that You are always with me.

Best Verse: Psalm 52:8 “But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.”

NOT JUST GOOD ON SALADS

I’m a green olive lover.  I love them on pizza, in salads, in casseroles or just plain by themselves.  So, when I read this verse today it struck me.  Why would David use an olive tree as an example?

Well, when an olive tree is planted in the right soil and properly maintained, it will produce olives. Simple! He was not saying there were olive trees in the temple.  But when we are planted in the right place and nurtured, we too will flourish and produce fruit.  It all comes back to God’s lovingkindness, His kesed.  His mercy sustains us.

TEACHING MOMENT

Your little Susie or Elrod are like little olive trees.  You must plant them in the right soil.  You must give them the proper nutrients.  When you do that, you can expect them to grow.  Without providing a spiritually rich environment for them we can expect the opposite.  Spiritual growth requires spiritual food.

How do you feed a five-year-old spiritually?  By reading them God’s Word.  By praying with them.  By living out the Christ Life in front of them so they see what it looks like.  By teaching them to confess their sins and seek forgiveness.  These things nurture their little souls and leads them to their heavenly Father.

But how about your spiritual olive tree?  Are you flourishing?  Are you producing fruit?  Won’t you allow the Lord to tend to you?  Let Him trim and prune where necessary.  And then, when you produce that fruit, give it all to Him.  He is worthy!

Lord, there are times when my “branches” are withering due to lack of nourishment. But that is normally because I have chosen other things in my life.  Teach me to dwell in Your presence where I can receive growth.

Best Verses: Psalm 50:4-5 “4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, to judge His people: 5 ‘Gather My godly ones to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’”

HEAVENS AND EARTH

I will have to admit that I do not remember these verses.  That happens a lot, though.  I have read through the Bible many times, but each year I find verses that I just don’t remember.  These two today are in that group.

God is directing the heavens and the earth to gather His people.  Look at how we are identified.  God calls us “godly ones.”  We are the ones “who have made a covenant” with Him.  We are protected by that covenant that was made through the blood of Jesus. I love that God has called us “godly ones.”

TEACHING MOMENT

I know your children are precious to you.  Whether they are three or thirty-three, our children are special.  But are they godly?  We know we are all born sinners. We are born in flesh.  Only God’s redeeming power can make us godly.  There is not one thing in us that can do that.

So, one of your jobs is to make your children godly.  “Right Carl! I can’t do that.”  That’s correct.  Your job is to direct them and lead them to the One who can.  You provide the environment where they can discover the truth.  You teach them God’s Word which will draw them to Him.  You pray for them and with them to show them how to talk to God.  He will do the rest.

Do you consider yourself to be a godly person?  God does, if you are one of His.  Start living like it, if you are not.  Remember who you are in covenant with.  Let His attributes be lived out in your life each day.

Righteous Judge, You may send the heavens and the earth to gather me one day.  I am excited about that.  I am ready to see You.  Help me share the good news with others while I am here.

Best Verse: Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah.”

FREE

So, if we are free from the power of Sheol, what is it?  Sheol is a place of darkness where you are separated from God’s presence.  Can you imagine?  No contact with God?  No light. No joy.  No peace.  No security.

Praise be to God that He delivers us from that.  Through the power of the blood of Jesus, He has redeemed us, and He will receive us. Receive us where?  In heaven!  Our next place of dwelling, as a believer, is heaven.  There we will dwell in eternal life with joy, peace and security.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children want to be secure.  They may not even be aware of that, but they do. They want to know where you are. They want to know Mom and Dad are nearby.  They can do anything if they know you are close.  

Oh listen, that’s how it is with us and God.  We know God is near.  We know He is close by.  Teach your children that.  When you can’t be there, He is always there.  When they can’t see you, He sees them.  When we can’t hear them, God can.  That’s real security.  That’s real joy.

Are you in a “sheol” right now? I don’t mean a real sheol.  As a believer you can’t be there.  But you may be in a dark place and feel God is absent.  He’s not!  Talk to Him.  Let His light fill your situation and trust Him to see you through.

Father of light, I praise You for delivering me from Sheol.  I thank You that I can rest assured of Your presence in my life and for eternity.

Psalm 47: 1 “O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.”

I have the privilege to travel to Uganda and Kenya each year to teach at a Pastors’ Conference.  Oh, the joy!  Worship with my Ugandan and Kenyan brothers and sisters is filled with clapping and “shouting” for joy.  Needless to say, their worship is lively and invigorating.

Then I come home (insert sad face here).  Our worship isn’t nearly as exciting.  Let me explain quickly.  I don’t mean you have to clap and shout to have worship.  Please hear me.  But the Spirit in which my African brothers and sisters worship is in freedom.  Their culture does not look at someone strange if they sway, jump or dance to the songs. It’s not about what they do in worship. It’s about the Spirit in which they do it.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children don’t have to be encouraged to move to the music.  Sometimes they just have to move.  I believe, as long as they are not distracting others, we should allow our children to worship as the Spirit leads them.  You have to teach them what is appropriate for the setting.  But give them some freedom.

Why not have a worship time at home and tell them when you sing they are free to respond to the music however they want?  After you do that, ask them why they responded the way they did.  What a great teaching moment for them!  Individual worship, family worship and corporate worship all have different “expectations” of behavior.  Remember, it’s not about what they do.  It’s about the Spirit within them.

Are you free to worship?  You may choose to lift your hands and shout.  You may choose to sit quietly with your eyes closed.  You may clap and sway.  Just allow the Spirit of God which resides in You to express to God your adoration and praise.

Father of worship, I praise You for allowing freedom in worship. You have not dictated a stiff, formal manner that we have to follow.  Thank You for giving us room to express to You our love and devotion.

Psalm 45:6 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”

ETERNITY

Whenever I am teaching children and the word “forever” is in the verse I always ask them how long forever is. Of course, kids are blunt.  They just say, “Pastor Carl, that’s a silly question.  Forever is forever.”  That kind of sums it up.  Forever is forever.  It’s a long time.  In fact, it’s ALL time.

Think about that.  Forever incorporates all time.  Before time even existed, God was there.  He has ALWAYS been there.  There has never been a millisecond of existence without God. That is mind blowing.  I can’t comprehend it.  I don’t have to.  I just believe it.

TEACHING MOMENT

Ask your little Elrod or Gertrude how long forever is.  You will get some great answers.  Ask them how old they are.  Ask them how old you are.  Then ask them how old they think God is.  That should bring some VERY interesting answers.  But kids have a way of figuring this stuff out.

Children just believe.  If the Bible says it’s true, they just believe it. If God says it, that settles it. It’s us, the adults, who complicate the issue.  We want to figure out what the kids just accept.  Hmmmm, we might could learn something from them.

Do you believe in forever?  Do you trust the ageless, eternal God of the universe to guide you?  If He can create all that is in an eternal realm, I think He can handle leading you. Will you let Him do that today?

Eternal God, thank You for loving me so much.  Thank You for giving me forever.  I cannot wait to spend it with You.

Psalm 43:5 “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

 DON’T DESPAIR

You are probably too young to remember that song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” It has a kind of Jamaican tune to it and was popular quite a few years ago. I wonder if the Psalmist was playing that tune on his lyre.  Lol

But the question he asks is a good one. “Why are you in despair, O my soul?” He is chastising himself for not putting his trust in Jehovah God.  He knows the answer.  He knows his hope.  Do you?

TEACHING MOMENT

Children, just like the rest of us, can beat themselves up about stuff.  They can despair.  They can get depressed.  Use this Psalm during that time.  Show them the answer to their lowliness.  It does NOT rest in someone or something.  The answer is God.  The answer is their faith in Christ Jesus.

Now let me ask you a question, Mom and Dad.  Are you a depressing person?  Do you worry or despair a lot?  If you do, you WILL affect how your child reacts.  You will influence their hope.  They need to see you resting in Jesus.  Show them how to do that.

We all get down sometimes.  But we, as believers, can’t stay there.  The world is watching us.  This hope we preach must be lived out.  This hope we say we believe in must be evident in our lives to be believed by others.  Trust Him today.  He is the help of your countenance and your God.

Lifter of my head, I will praise You.  Even in the pit of despair I will look up to You.  Thank You for loving me and bringing me out.