Category Archives: Security

Bible, Peace, Promises, Protection, Scripture, Security

ONLY ONE PEACE IS TRULY PEACEFUL

PHILIPPIANS 4:7

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Prepositions, punctuation and conjunctions can dramatically change the meaning of statement. For instance, if I said, “Let’s eat, Grandma,” you would all say that’s great. But if I said, “Let’s eat Grandma,” you might call the police. Right? We sometimes pass right over the little words or characters, but we believe that every “jot and tittle” of God’s Word is from His mouth, do we not?

So, when Paul says in today’s verse, “the peace of God,” we need pause and look at what he said. Of the 1327 times theos (God) is used in the New Testament, 698 of those times it is the genitive, theou (of God). That’s pretty significant, don’t you think. The Word of God seems to point a lot to the things that are of God. Paul knew that only the peace which belonged to (that’s what the genitive means) God can give us peace. Only His peace is will.

APPLICATION

But look at the rest of this verse. This peace is not an idle peace. First of all, it “surpasses all comprehension.” It is incomprehensible. We cannot fathom the depths of God’s peace. We cannot understand why He would give it to us. We do not know how it truly works but can feel it working. Am I right?

Jesus said in John 14:27, “‘Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.” Because He said that, Paul can tell us that it “will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s peace is actively guarding our hearts and minds. Isn’t that awesome?

Our hearts and our minds are guarded by God’s peace. How does He do that? By drawing us close to us. James 4:8 tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” What a promise! And if God is near, our hearts and minds are guarded. His Spirit in us works with God’s peace to comfort and protect us. What a marvelous God we have. Amen?

Lord, thank You for Your peace in my life. I could not face a day without it.

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Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Promises, Remembering, Scripture, Security

THE PROMISE

GALATIANS 4:23

“But the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.”

I love it when someone promises me something that I know they can deliver. As a full time missionary, when someone promises to support me financially, I put my trust in the Lord to remind them to do just that – begin supporting me. When it is someone I know has the potential to fulfill that promise, it is even more exciting. God promises to take care of His servants. That’s what I am holding on to.

Paul continues the analogy of Isaac and Ishmael in today’s verse. This time he points to the promise made to Abraham and Sarah to have a child. Do you remember the story? Genesis 18:10 says, “He said, ‘I will certainly return to you at this time next year; and behold, your wife Sarah will have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.” Simple enough, right? But remember they were both advanced in years. This would be a God thing!

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Let’s talk about God things. These are things that happen that can only be explained as God doing them. When that happens, we have the opportunity to bear witness to our Lord. He has given us so many promises in Scripture. Let’s look at a few. In Joshua 1:9 we read, “‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.’” How about Isaiah 40:31? “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

I could continue listing those promises. Do a search yourself. Make a list of them. Claim those promises each day. God’s promise to us is to take us to heaven one day. That promise is not because of anything we’ve done, however. It’s all based on His precious Son’s sacrifice for us. As we place our trust in Him, He makes us that promise. And His promises never fail (Joshua 21:45).

Lord, I trust Your promises to come true in my life. I just need to wait on You.

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Access, Accountability, Battles, Bible, Devil, Opponents, Satan, Scripture, Security, Testimony

NOT FOR A SECOND

GALATIANS 2:5

“But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”

There are some things in life which you just can’t allow for a second. You can’t allow a match to be struck in a room filled with propane. The result would be devastating. Neither would you allow a fox into your chicken coop. There would be feathers and blood everywhere. Some things just can’t be tolerated. Period.

Paul goes on in verse 5 of chapter 2 to explain his complete denial of any suggestions or influence from those wanting to impose the Mosaic law on the Gentiles, thus altering the Gospel he has been preaching. Albert Barnes says this about this verse. “We did not submit to this at all. We did not yield even for the shortest time. We did not waver in our opposition to their demands, or in the slightest degree become subject to their wishes.” In other words, we do not give them an inch for we know they would take a mile.

APPLICATION

This verse is so applicable to us today. You may not see it at first glance but look again at what Paul is saying. We cannot allow the world to influence the Gospel. We must influence the world with the Gospel. Paul did say in 1 Corinthians 9:22b, “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” I would encourage you to read that verse in context (verses 19-23) to get the full picture of what Paul is saying. He is not saying to take on the behaviors of those people.

We must relate to people and our world without becoming them. I can share the Gospel with someone without lowering my standards or accepting their vices. Ephesians 5:8 tells us, “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” We have to hold the torch of Christ high even though the world is doing everything it can to blow that flame out.

If the Lord has called you to someone or a group of people who do not hold to the truth of the Gospel, hold firm. Do not give in to their promptings to reduce the demands of the Gospel. Keep it simple and clear but hold the line. Don’t give in for a second. Satan loves to find those little cracks in the armor. Stand firm.

O Father, I will not give in with Your help. You sustain me and lift me up.

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Bible, Change, Dependence, Faithfulness, God's Will, Immutable, Scripture, Security

I DO NOT CHANGE

MALACHI 3:6

“‘For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end.’”

Immutability – that’s a big word. What does it mean? The Miriam-Webster dictionary says it is something that is incapable of change. What do you know that is like that? I bet nothing. Weather changes. Nature changes. Economies change. Everything changes – except one thing. We see that today in our text.

God says very clearly, “For I, the Lord, do not change.” Period! Exclamation mark! Why is that important? Because if God could change, He would not be God. His whole character rests on His unchangeableness. Listen to what MacLauren says about this. “But the unchangeableness of God is the negation of all imperfection, it is the negation of all dependence on circumstances, it is the negation of all possibility of decay or exhaustion, it is the negation of all caprice.” And because God does not change, Jacob will not be consumed, according to our verse today.

APPLICATION

God loves you and will forever love you. That will not change. His decision to bring you to heaven based on your decision to follow Christ will not change. Salvation is sure and unchangeable. His covenant with us will never cease, just as His with Jacob did not. Psalm 102:27 says, “But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”

I love what James says in his letter. In James 1:17 we read, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” No variation! No shifting shadow! God is the one constant you can depend on. When He says He will do something, He does it.

You may be thinking, “But Carl, aren’t there some verses about God changing His mind?” Yes, you are right. But those verses are conditional on man’s response, not God’s. God is consistent in season and out. You can depend on His faithfulness and steadfastness. When all else fails you, God will not. Lean on Him.

Lord, I know I can depend on You when everything around me is falling apart. Thank You, Jesus.

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Bible, Blessing, Enemies, Favor, God's Will, Scripture, Security

SECURITY

ZECHARIAH 14:11

“People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will live in security.”

Today you can secure your home in so many ways. You can, of course, have locks on your doors and windows. But you can also have cameras outside and inside your home. You can install a video doorbell. You can put up fences. Heck, you could even put in a moat if you wanted to. You can hire a company to monitor your home. Your home can be made to feel secure.

Oh, but in today’s verse we see the city of Jerusalem finally being made secure. For centuries Jerusalem has been the target of its enemies. But on this day God will secure it. He will lift the curse or judgment. People will live at peace. Can you imagine? No skirmishes! No battles! No attacks! Peace! That will be a glorious day.

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Let me ask if you are secure. Are you? What is it based on? I love what Deuteronomy 33:12 says. “May the beloved of the LORD live in security beside Him Who shields him all the day long, And he lives between His shoulders.” Isn’t that beautiful. We live between His shoulders. Wow! That’s pretty secure.

We also know this. Ephesians 1:13 says, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,” Now, if God seals you, you are sealed. You are secure. I don’t care how firm your grip is, you are not going to remove that seal that God puts on you – the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, if you are not in Christ, you are not secure. Your future is just the opposite. You are destined for another ending. We know that all who do not profess Jesus as Savior will face judgment and eternal damnation. That’s harsh, but it’s true. Even more reason for us to spread the good news. Let’s make everyone secure. How about it?

Father, thank You for making me secure through the blood of the Lamb.

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Advocate, Battles, Bible, Defense, Encouragement, Foundation, Scripture, Security

HEAVY STONE

ZECHARIAH 12:3

“‘It will come about on that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will injure themselves severely. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.’”

Sometimes you just have to move a heavy object. I have a piece of furniture in my home that is very heavy. When we moved into our current home, I enlisted several of my friends to help with the heavy stuff. I vividly remember several robust young men heaving this particular piece of furniture over the stair banister and lifting it up the stairs. It was a major effort. I think it will stay when we move.

The Lord describes Jerusalem as a heavy stone in today’s verse. It wasn’t that they were heavy. They were immovable. Jerusalem would also cause severe injury to all who tried to move it. In other words, God was protecting the city. It was not going to be moved by anyone. They were there to stay, secured by God. It was His power that kept it in place.

APPLICATION

The Lord is still keeping us secure. Did you know that? We are immovable because of Him. Our faith is secure. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Just like Jerusalem was immovable, we are also because of His seal on us. Satan can buffet us and berate us, but we will not be moved. Don’t forget that. You may feel like you are falling apart, but you’re not. God’s got this. What He calls secure is secure.

I am so thankful for that security. Aren’t you? I am reminded of that security every time I read His Word. It is the anchor for my soul. Meditating and memorizing it brings me such confidence and peace. Have you experienced that? I hope so. If not, take some time today to dig into the Word. What you have just read is just a taste of what is to come.

O Lord, You are my security. You make me immovable.

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Bible, Dependence, Foundation, Scripture, Security

TENT PEG

ZECHARIAH 10:4

“From them will come the cornerstone, from them the tent peg, from them the bow of battle, from them every tyrant, all of them together.”

Even though I don’t do it a lot, I really like to go camping. I love sleeping in a tent (as long as I have some good padding on the ground, lol). There is one thing about tent camping – you need to secure your tent to the ground with some tent pegs. This will prevent it from getting blown over in a storm. That is never a good thing when you’re trying to sleep.

Isaiah 22:23 says, “I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, and he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house.” This is what the Lord is referring to in today’s verse. Israel will be nailed down securely as a tent peg. Israel will be the cornerstone. Finally, Israel is going to be fixed and solid in their land and serve as fixture, set by God.

APPLICATION

Albert Barnes equates this verse to Jesus. “Christ is the nail fixed in the wall, whereby all vessels are supported.” I really like that. We are fixed with Jesus. The author of Hebrews tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1). And then the apostle Paul reminds us to fix our thoughts on some things. Take a look at them in Philippians 4:8.

The point is we have an anchor to which we can fix ourselves. Jesus is not moving. He is set. He is secure. We can depend on Him. Isn’t it nice knowing that you can? When all of life fails you, you can depend on Him. That is so awesome. It should thrill your soul to know that. As a friend of mine used to say, “That is shouting ground.”

I have chosen to fix myself to Jesus. How about you? Are you fixing yourself to something else? I promise you it will fail you. Nothing is as secure as our Savior. If you have not fixed yourself to Him yet, do it now. Do it today. Give Him your heart. He will never let go.

I will secure myself to You, O God. You are the tent peg which is firmly attached.

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Abiding, Bible, Protection, Scripture, Security, Trust

FALSE SECURITY

ZEPHANIAH 1:10

“‘And on that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘There will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, wailing from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills.’”

There is nothing worse than to think you are safe only to find out you’re not. I have ridden out several hurricanes in my lifetime. Most of them weren’t a big deal. But there was one… We thought we were fine, but when it hit, we thought we had made a mistake in staying. It hit harder and stayed longer than we thought.

Zephaniah is relaying the Lord’s words in verse 10 which describe the people’s reliance on their man made defenses against their enemies. The Fish Gate couldn’t withstand them. Nor could the Second Quarter of the high points of the city. All reliance on their defense efforts fell short. Why? Because the Lord had removed His protection.

APPLICATION

Oh, to think where I would be without the Lord’s protection. I would probably be in some gutter. I know my flesh. But because I have chosen to follow Him and give my life to Him, He has made a covenant with me to protect me. Psalm 17:8-9 give us a promise. “8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9 from the wicked who deal violently with me, my deadly enemies who surround me.”

Just as the Lord covenanted with David, so He covenants with us. We do not have to rely on our own defenses. And because we are His children, He will never withdraw His protection. The key is abiding in Him. Take a minute and read John 15. There is the key to abiding in Jesus.

I have found that abiding in Him is a whole lot easier than trying to protect myself from a ruthless enemy. I am no match for him on my own. My only defense is Jesus. As I submit to my Master and resist the enemy, he has to flee (James 4:7). Are you tired of failing on your own. Come to Him.

I praise You, O Lord, for keeping me safe from the evil one. You are my Protector and Defender.

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Bible, Covenant, Promises, Protection, Relationships, Rescue, Scripture, Security, Strength

MY STRENGTH

HABAKKUK 3:19

“The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like deer’s feet, and has me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.”

Here we are at the last verse of Habakkuk. This verse is one of the most quoted in the book. If you missed the beginning of the look at Habakkuk, go back to the beginning of my blogs on this awesome book. They began on November 2. That means we have spent 56 days looking at each verse of this wonderful message to us.

Habakkuk closes his message with praise to God. He confesses publicly that the Lord God is his strength. He does not place his trust in the armies of Israel or on some foreign power. He knows God is the only source of strength. He brings in the image of the deer climbing up effortlessly to the high places. He says God does the same for him. And that applies to us as well.

When we are at our lowest, the Lord picks us up. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” When we rely on Him, He can lift us up to the high places. He does it effortlessly. It is no strain for Him, but for us, it’s agony.

APPLICATION

My little granddaughter asked me the other day to throw her high. Now, she’s approaching five years old. When she was a toddler, this was an easy ask. I could throw her multiple times to her glee. But now…that’s not so easy. It is hard for me to do that more than twice. Aren’t you grateful that God does not tire of lifting us up. No matter how many times we fall, we can turn to Him and say, “Father, lift me,” and He does.

I have had to call on Him several times in my life. There have been moments when I did not think I could carry on. That weakness may have been emotional, physical or spiritual. Each time He came to my aid. Each time He “made my feet like deer’s feet and has me walk on my high places.” He will do the same for you.

I want to climb to the highest heights, Father. Lift me up to be with You.

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Accused, Bible, Forgiveness, Judgment, Safety, Salvation, Scripture, Security

BOW AND ARROWS

HABAKKUK 3:9

“You removed Your bow from its holder, the arrows of Your word were sworn. Selah. You divided the earth with rivers.”

I have a crossbow which I use to hunt. I have yet to claim a deer with it, but I am ready should the opportunity come. That bow is no good to me if I keep it in its case. It is also no good if I do not load it with a bolt (an arrow for a crossbow). But once I pull it out of its case and load it with a bolt, it is ready to be used.

God’s judgment is pictured here by Habakkuk as an unsheathed bow that has its arrows ready to shoot. God’s word of promise to execute judgment are true, just like His aim. We may not see it coming, much like an arrow shot from a distance. But it is coming, and God never misses His target. “But God will shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they will be wounded.” Psalm 64:7

APPLICATION

I do not fear God’s arrows of judgment because I have laid my sins at the foot of the cross. My sins have been paid for by my Savior and Lord. I can walk in victory each day, knowing that there is no need to look over my shoulder fearing God’s wrath. It has been satisfied by the blood of the Lamb.

The enemy will try to insinuate that I am not secure in Christ. He will try to get me to question the power of the cross. All those are lies, told to try to get me off my mission. My mission is to point others to Jesus. I want to see them walk in the same victory I am walking in each day.

How about you? Do you walk in fear or victory? Do you walk as if you are defeated? If you are a child of God, if you have placed your faith in Jesus, there is no need to walk that way. You have been promised a home with Him in eternity. Nothing can change that. You are safe and secure. Walk that way.

Thank You, Lord, for the knowledge that You do execute judgment where necessary, but I am free from judgment because of Christ.

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