No adoption without separation

Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17,18)

Here is the commandment: come out from among them, be separate, do not touch what is unclean.

Here is the promise: you will be my sons and daughters.

There is no adoption without separation.

What a wonderful privilege for those who are separated from the world, the sin, and the idols. They are children of God.

Almighty God is our Father.

If we need advice, let's turn to Him. If we have worries, let’s tell Him. If we have concerns, fears, something to complain about, let's call Him. If we face dangers, let us run to Him.

Our heavenly Father has everything, therefore we lack nothing, we have no reason to worry.

From my diary,

May 31, 2023

 

New day is a gift from God

 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Every day is a gift from God, this is the day He has made, it is an expression of His great mercy, therefore it is a reason to rejoice, be grateful, it is an occasion to thank Him. How grateful and happy the person who receives a gift every day should be, how grateful he should be to the One who gives him a gift every day

Our Lord gives us a gift every day: He gives us a new day to enjoy His blessings, to see the wonders of His Word, to rejoice in His mercy.

Thank you, Lord, for Your precious daily gifts.

From my diary,

May 30, 2023

Take it to Jesus

Bring him here to Me. Matthew 17:17

What Jesus said to the father of the epileptic boy is true for anyone who has tried to solve their problems on their own or with the help of other people, but to no avail.

It doesn't matter how long the problem, the trouble, the captivity of sin has existed, Jesus can surely remove it.

So, let me take my worries, temptations, fears, and doubts to Jesus with faith.

I am so glad Jesus does not say, "Find a way out on your own," He says, "Bring it here to Me."

From my diary,

May 29, 2023

 

Diligent in business

 

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Proverbs 22:29

Here is my answer to Solomon's question: " I have seen many people who are diligent in their business, but I wish I could see someone like that in the mirror."

Having a lot of work is a blessing from God, and one who appreciates that blessing will work diligently, will not delay the work, will not leave the work unfinished, will wake up early in the morning, will be happy that he is able to work.

Effort  is needed everywhere and in everything: I need to be diligent in prayer, in scriptural meditation, in the fight against sin, in daily work, in service to God.

From my diary,

May 28, 2023

Numbered hair, caring God

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30

Hair is not a necessity for life, and bald people can be healthy, they can  have a long life. But still God has numbered the hair of His elect. So there is nothing in our lives that He does not care about.

If He has numbered  our hair, doesn't He know about our troubles, problems, needs?

If He cares for something which is not needed for life, how much more does He care for those things which are needed to life and godliness.

‘’His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.’’ (2 Peter 1:3)

Therefore, I entrust even the smallest problem to Him with faith.

From my diary,

May 27, 2023

 

Food carriers appointed by God

 

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 1 Kings 17:6

Elijah had prayed for the drought to begin, and his prayers were answered. While others suffered from the lack of water and food, Elijah himself was not deprived. Following the Lord's instructions, he went to the brook Cherith and witnessed the miraculous provision of sustenance in the most unexpected manner—through messengers in the form of ravens. They brought him free food twice a day, faithfully delivering it to his place of residence. God does incredible things for His people; he appointed ravens as food carriers to sustain His prophet.

  From my diary,

May 26, 2023

It is good to give thanks to the Lord

 

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1

It is good  to give thanks to the Lord, because the Lord is worthy of thanksgiving, because it is a good thing to have a reason to be thankful. Everyone has such  reasons. It is a good thing to have a thankful heart; it is a gift from God; It is good to thank Him with words because it will inspire and encourage others to do the same. It is a good thing, because the one with a grateful heart does not doubt God's power, wisdom, goodness, knows that God never makes mistakes. And on the contrary, complaining is an evil thing, because it  expresses unbelief, ingratitude, lack of reverence for God.

  From my diary,

May 25, 2023

God's mercy is source of joy

 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Psalm 90:14

Moses' prayer is also my prayer. Nothing gladdens my heart more than tasting God's mercy. For me, the synonym of happiness is holiness, every sanctified person is happy. And it is impossible to be holy without God's mercy.

He who rejoices in God's mercy does not seek joy elsewhere.

 From my diary,

May 24, 2023

His promises did not fail that’s why my faith will not fail.

Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. 1 Kings 8:24

In his prayer, Solomon refers to the Lord's promise in 2 Samuel 7:13, which literally came true: ՛՛He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. (2 Samuel 7:13)

Knowing the Lord's promise, Solomon had acted upon that promise, and now he saw the fulfillment of the promise with his own eyes.

Solomon also mentioned this in his speech to the people: ‘’Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.’’ (1 Kings 8:56)

The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. As He has been faithful to His promises until now, He will be faithful forever. It is disrespectful to Him to doubt His promises because of the circumstances. He can't lie.

This encourages me to wait on the Lord's promises. If the Lord has promised something, I can be sure that no matter how impossible it seems, it will surely come true. What He says with His mouth He fulfills with His hand.

His promises did not fail that’s why my faith will not fail.

                                                                                                                                            From my diary,

May 23, 2023

Tell your worries and doubts to God

 

I cried out to God with my voice— To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. Psalm 77:1

Asaph had questions, doubts, worries and complaints (Psalm 77:2-9). All of this drove him to prayer. And the prayer was answered. The questions he asked reminded him of God's past works and past miracles.

I have all that Asaph had: questions, doubts, worries, but I must also have prayer and right thoughts; I should not think of my troubles, I should meditate on the works of God.

I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. Psalm 77:12

From my diary,

May 22, 2023

Those who have such a buckler will not be defeated by the enemy.

 

Sweet psalmist of Israel

… and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said. (2 Samuel 23:1).

Why does the Bible call David the sweet psalmist of Israel?

He wrote the sweetest poems and songs ever written. He wrote of God's sweet presence, of His Word sweeter than honey, of His sweet mercy.

Every Christian who longs for God's presence, loves God's Word, delights in the treasures of God's Word, loves and reads the writings of the sweet psalmist of Israel. I am really surprised that some Christians ignore the book of Psalms or hardly ever read it.

I am grateful for the writings of the sweet psalmist, for the sweet mercy, the sweet Word, the sweet presence of God described in them. 

From my diary,

May 21, 2023

Mercy for those who devise good

Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good. Proverbs 14:22

Bible often reminds us of the importance of watching our thoughts. And since the mind is never idle, it is necessary to watch what it is busy with. Actions, life, spiritual state depend on thoughts. If a person devises evil, it is already done in the eyes of God, those who think evil go astray. Wrong plans lead astray, but good plans bring God's mercy and truth.

God's mercy and truth are present in the life of those who have right plans; good, holy, God-pleasing plans

Therefore, I must always make sure that there are only good plans in my heart.

From my diary,

May 20, 2023

 

Destroyed or rewarded

 He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. Proverbs 13:13

Whether we will be destroyed or rewarded depends on our attitude toward God's Word.

He who despises the Word of God is the author of his own destruction.

There are many examples in Scripture where those who despised the Word of God were destroyed. During Noah's time, the entire population of the world was destroyed except for Noah's family. Pharaoh perished when he rejected God's Word through Moses, Ahab died when he rejected God's Word through Micah.

Contrasted with such people in this verse are those who fear God's commandment, who revere God's Word, desire to keep it, rejoice when they keep God's commandment, grieve when they break God's Word. Not only will they not perish, but they will be rewarded. They will be rewarded with a holy life, joy, peace, heavenly blessings.

From my diary,

May 19, 2023

Go to the throne of grace with God's promises

 

God's heart is full of mercy toward those whose hearts are full of trust in Him

 

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You… Psalm 57:1

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. Psalm 57:11

The psalmist prays with confidence in God, that’s why he will receive what he asks for: His mercy. He knows that no one else can grant him mercy, he knows that he is calling the right Person, and he knows that he has the right argument to receive it; because my soul trusts in You.  God's heart is full of mercy toward those whose hearts are full of trust in Him.

The psalm begins with a plea for mercy and ends with praise. He who asks for God's mercy receives it, therefore he has reason to praise God. The psalmist asked for God's mercy on his life, in the last verse he wants to see the glory of God on the whole earth.

Every person who has earnestly said: "Be merciful to me", he will also say "Be exalted o God".

From my diary,

May 18, 2023

God's promises inspire prayer

 

… therefore hath Thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto Thee. 2 Samuel 7:27

Prayer must be in the heart before it comes to the lips. If there is no prayer in the heart, the  prayer on the lips will not reach heaven. And prayer comes  into  the heart when there is  the promise of God and our trust in the promise. If I know that the Lord has promised forgiveness of sins to those who repent of their sins, I will pray for forgiveness. We must take the promise and go to the throne of grace and ask for the fulfillment of the promise. He who prays invoking God's promise thus demonstrates confidence in God's faithfulness. A person who believes in God's promise says like David. "You promised, that's why I pray."

For there to be prayer in the heart, the heart must be free from sin, unbelief, pride, and filled with the Word of God, the knowledge of God's promises. It is not possible for the heart to be filled with the Word of God and not have prayer in it.

So let me empty my heart of all the unnecessary things and let the the Word of God dwell in my heart. Then I will find a prayer in my heart that can be offered to God. The author of that prayer will be the Word of God, therefore it will surely be answered.

From my diary,

May 17, 2023

 

God's Word abides forever; those born of His Word will live forever

 

Encourage yourself in the Lord

 And David was greatly distressed… but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

David was greatly distressed, but there was a blessed "but"; "but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God ". He didn't expect encouragement from others, he encouraged himself, he didn't encourage himself with the wrong things: neither with his military skills, nor with his strength, nor with his wisdom. He encouraged himself in the LORD his God, encouraged himself with His promises, remembering the victories God had given him in the past.

In the Psalms, I saw how David encouraged himself. The first five verses of Psalm 103 are an encouraging conversation with himself in which he reminds himself of all the works of the Lord. Remembering God's works and God’s promises, God’s mercy and strength is enough to be encouraged.

I want to learn to encourage all God's children, including myself, with the Word of God in every situation.

From my diary,

May 15, 2023

 

He will fall but he will not be cast down

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:24

What can happen? A child of God, a righteous person can fall.

What can't happen? He will not be utterly cast down.

Why? Not because he is strong, not because other people will help him, but because the Lord upholds him with His hand .

In the Bible we have seen saints who fell but did not stay fallen, they were not cast down.

From my diary,

May 14, 2023