Recognizing the Shepherd's Voice

’’But they will never follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.’’ - John 10:5

Sheep are prone to go astray. Without a good shepherd, they cannot find food and can become food for wolves. But if there is a good shepherd, even with thieves around them, the sheep will not go astray for one reason: they recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow only him.

God's people have a good Shepherd, Jesus. There are many foreign voices trying to capture the attention of Jesus' sheep, but the little flock does not go astray. The sheep of Jesus' flock do not go astray, not because they are smart, wise, strong, or experienced, but because they recognize the voice of the good Shepherd and flee from the stranger.

To avoid going astray, one thing is needed: to recognize the voice of Jesus through His Word and to reject any other voices, fleeing from strangers.

From my diary,

June 30,  2024

Sinful silence

 “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent.” - 2 Kings 7:9

The four lepers, who were the first to discover that the Syrian army had fled, leaving behind all their possessions, initially enjoyed the treasures and food they found. However, they soon realized that it was wrong to keep such good news to themselves. They went and spread the word that the Syrian army was gone and all their treasures were left in Samaria. They understood that it was a sin to be full and not inform the hungry about the abundant food. Elisha's prophecy was fulfilled, and the four lepers were the first witnesses. Had they remained silent, many people would have starved, and it would have been their fault.

There is a silence that is sinful. When you know the good news and remain silent, when you are aware of where the spiritual food is and do not inform the hungry, when you know that the Savior is Jesus but do not tell the lost, you are sinning. Imagine the impact if all Christians declared: "We are not doing right; today is a day of good news, and we remain silent."

From my diary,

June 29,  2024

Trusting in God Alone

"Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You!" - Psalm 86:2

The psalmist expects salvation because God is his God and he is God's servant. His trust is not in himself, but in God.

David is not the servant of another, but of God, and God will not abandon His servant. He will not disappoint those who trust in Him.

From my diary,

June 28,  2024

All is Well: A Spiritual Self-Assessment

 “‘Are you all right?’ ‘Everything is all right.’” - 2 Kings 4:26

We often hear this question that Elisha asked the Shunammite woman through his servant: "Are you all right?" We can ask ourselves this question to examine our spiritual condition.

Blessed is the one who can honestly answer this question: "I am all right."

I am all right because the temperature of my love for God is high: I love Him with all my heart, all my mind, and all my strength. I am all right because my heart is functioning well. I long for holiness, hate sin, rejoice in truth, and grieve for my sins.

I am all right because I don't have an eating disorder in the spiritual sense. I am hungry for the Word of God, I feed on the pure Word of God, and I refuse the fast food of the world.

I am all right because my spiritual sight is good. I see the wonders of God's Word, I see my own weaknesses, the traps set by the enemy, and God's power. And I do not set nothing wicked before my eyes (Psalm 101:3).

I am all right because my spiritual hearing is good. I hear the rebuke of God's Word and the warning of my conscience when I do something wrong.

I am all right because I do not have a memory disorder. I remember the cleansing of my former sins (2 Peter 1:9), God's commandments (Psalm 119:176), God's promises, God's works, and blessings. I remember God's children in my prayers.

I am all right because I have the strength to run the race of faith.

I am all right because I have a refuge; the Lord is my hiding place. I have beautiful clothing: the clothing of Colossians 3:12-14.

I am all right because I am a child of Almighty God, and He takes care of all my worries.

From my diary,

June 27,  2024

Seeds of Memory, Harvest of Obedience

 "That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments." - Psalm 78:7

Those who forget the works of God will not keep His commandments. But those who remember God's deeds—His salvation, justification, sanctification, guidance in daily life, and blessings—can keep His commandments.

If I remember the sanctification bought by His blood and imparted through His Word, I will keep the commandment : "Be holy."

Those who do not remember the love of Jesus will not remember His words either.

I strive to keep the works of God in my mind, His Word in my heart, and His commandments in my life.

From my diary,

June 26,  2024

A foolish request, an answered prayer

 "Come; for all things are now ready." - Luke 14:17

"I pray thee have me excused." - Luke 14:18

It is sad that some reject this wonderful invitation. They receive the invitation to a great supper and say, "I pray thee have me excused."

There couldn't be a more foolish request. Those who reject God's invitation not only show disrespect to Him who prepared the great feast but also do themselves a disservice, revealing their own folly.

"I pray thee have me excused." How terrible it is to say those words to God and receive a positive answer! Those who utter these words do not realize what an honor it is to be invited to the feast of the King of Kings, and how foolish it is to refuse such an invitation.

"I pray thee have me excused." Woe to those who say this prayer! Unfortunately, it is a prayer that gets answered. If they understood what they were rejecting, they would not have said those words.

Those invited to the king's feast do not need to bring anything to the table or pay; they only need to accept the invitation and come.

From my diary,

June 25,  2024

Seeking Answers in Scripture

"And He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? How do you read it?'" - Luke 10:26

Jesus often responds to our questions with another question: "What is written in the Word? How do you read it?"

Lord, how do I overcome the temptation of sin? "What is written in the Word?"

How do I advance in sanctification? "What is written in the Word?"

Lord, what should I do to solve this problem? "What is written in the Word?"

He poses this question not only so we read, know, and remember what is written in the Word, but also so we believe and put it into practice.

Therefore, let me study the Scriptures daily to see what is written in the Word and to live it out.

From my diary,

June 24,  2024

The Seventh Look: A Lesson in Persistent Prayer

 And said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” (1 Kings 18:43)

True faith is persistent, and true prayer is expectant. "Weather forecast" told Elijah that the probability of precipitation is zero. But Elijah did not stop praying. The servant gave the same answer six times. "There is nothing", but he continued to expect rain and said: "Go again." He was not focused on the absence of a cloud in the sky but on the presence of God in heaven. There was no cloud, but the rain-sender was present. On the seventh time, a cloud as small as a man’s hand appeared in the sky. Soon, it rained heavily.

Answers to some prayers seem far away; maybe I look at the situation like Elijah's servant and say, "There is nothing." But let me go to pray again and wait for the answer with faith.

From my diary,

June 23,  2024

Howls of the wicked, hymns of the righteous

"But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; And I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress." - Psalm 59:16

The psalmist first describes his enemies: the wicked, howling like dogs, wandering, growling, and lying in wait for him. Despite this, he declares his intention to praise God's power and sing joyfully of His lovingkindness. His actions are the exact opposite of the works of the wicked. They howl, but he sings for joy; they grumble, but he praises the Lord. They lie in wait for him, but he waits for the Lord. Their tongues wield swords, but his tongue offers praise. They wander, but he rests in his safe refuge.

God will laugh at the wicked (verse 8) , but He protects David.

From my diary,

June 22,  2024

 

Empty Words of the Wicked, Enduring Goodness of God

 "Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually." - Psalm 52:1

At first glance, the question addressed to a man who boasts in evil and the mention of God's enduring goodness might seem unrelated. However, they are connected. David reminds the wicked man that his words and deeds cannot harm God's people because God's goodness to His people endures continually.The words of a man who boasts of evil will one day cease, and God will destroy him forever (v. 5).

Therefore, we should not fear the threats or evil plans of the wicked, because the goodness of our God endures continually.

From my diary,

June 21,  2024

Not Yet Clothed in White, But Ready for Battle

 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." - Ephesians 6:11

As long as spiritual warfare endures, I am a soldier. While the devil employs his countless tricks, I must adhere to the principles of spiritual warfare and the strategies for defeating sin. Since I am not yet clothed in the fine linen of righteousness, I will wear the breastplate of righteousness. Since I have not yet reached heaven, I will not leave the battlefield.

The greater the danger, the more vigilant I must be and the more fervently I must pray. Carelessness inevitably leads to defeat.

From my diary,

June 20,  2024

Hearing His Wisdom: The Joy of Serving Jesus

 "How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!" - 1 Kings 10:8

The Queen of Sheba regarded Solomon's servants as truly blessed, for they had the privilege of standing in the presence of the wisest man on earth and hearing his wise words. How much more blessed are we to serve Him who is greater than Solomon (Matt. 12:42). Therefore, we should rejoice and seize the extraordinary privilege given to us: to be in the presence of Jesus daily and to listen to His life-giving words.

From my diary,

June 19,  2024

Urgency in Prayer

 

"Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!" - Psalm 38:22

David was in great trouble: loved ones and friends had left him, and those who hated him had multiplied. This sorrow brought fervency to his prayer. He could not tolerate a delayed answer to prayer; he wanted the Lord to make haste to help him.

When our only hope is in the Lord, when we do not expect help from anywhere else, when we cannot accept a negative answer to prayer, we will pray with the same fervor.

From my diary,

June 18,  2024

Trust and Joy

 "For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name." - Psalm 33:21

In the heart where there is trust in the Lord's name, there is joy in His holy presence.

We rejoice because we trust Him.

We trust Him, we believe in His promise, and therefore rejoice in His promises.

We trust Him, we believe that He is with us, and we rejoice in His presence.

We trust Him, we believe that He loves us, and we rejoice in His love.

We trust Him, we believe that He continues His good work in us, and we rejoice in His works. We trust Him, we believe that He is coming back soon, and we rejoice in the hope of His coming.

We have trusted Him for our salvation, we rejoice in His salvation.

We trusted Him, we rejoice in Him.

From my diary,

June 17,  2024

In His Lovingkindness: Living Out His Truth

"For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth."- Psalm 26:3

Acknowledging God's mercy is a powerful sin killer. When His lovingkindness is before my eyes, as a result, my feet walk in His truth. We live a holy life not under the compulsion of the law, but byexperiencing His amazing love and mercy. How can I grieve Him who has been so merciful to me?

Let his lovingkindness be the subject of my thoughts, the theme of my song, the subject of my praise.

From my diary,

June 16,  2024

The Dwelling Place of God: Praise as His Throne

 "But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel."- Psalm 22:3

Where there is praise to God, His presence is there. God's chosen dwelling place is the praise of His people. Therefore, if I want the Lord to dwell in my life, in my heart, and in my home, there must be praise in my heart, and my life must bring glory to Him. The praise of God's people is His throne, His dwelling place.

From my diary,

June 15,  2024

Secure in Wisdom: Holding Fast to God’s Word

 "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life." - Proverbs 4:13

We must hold fast to the instruction we receive from God's Word because there are thieves in the way—the world, the devil, our sinful nature—trying to steal it from us. We ourselves can lose it due to negligence.

We must hold fast to this instruction because it is our life; to lose it means death. A person holds fast to what is dear to him, what is important and valuable, what he cannot bear to lose. And if it is something that, if lost, would cost him his life, he will hold on even tighter.

The instruction of God's Word keeps us alive spiritually. If we do not hold fast, we will lose that life.

Therefore, let me hold fast to the instruction of God's Word, keep it in my mind, in my heart, and in my life.

From my diary,

June 14,  2024

God's Perfect way, My Perfect Peace

 "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him." - 2 Samuel 22:31

Unbelief, impatience, misguided expectations, and ingratitude can lead one to think that God's way is not perfect. However, everyone who truly knows God is assured that His way is perfect, even if there are unanswered prayers, even if the fulfillment of God's promises seems impossible.

God's Word is tried, it has stood the test: scientists have examined it, time has validated it, and enemies have tried and failed to discredit it. Those who love God's Word tried it and have been saved from sin, sanctified, and renewed by it, experiencing its transformative power. Thus, they have every reason to trust Him, and through this trust, they find perfect protection: God is a buckler to them.

God's way is perfect. Let my trust in Him be perfect, and as a result, my peace will be perfect.

From my diary,

June 13,  2024

Upright and Unafraid: Trusting in God’s Defense

"My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart." Psalm 7:10

The psalmist had persecutors, difficulties, and tribulations, but he also had hope because he had a true Defender: God. And he had a defender because he had an upright heart.

When you have an upright heart, there is no reason to fear or worry. Though false accusations may arise against the upright in heart, God will save them.

Therefore, I will always pray for an upright heart. Where there is holiness from God, there is also His protection.

From my diary,

June 12,  2024

 

Faith that glorifies God

 "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God." - Romans 4:20

Faith glorifies God, while unbelief disrespects Him. Faith declares, "God said this, and He never lies, so what He says will come to pass. God is good; He will grant my request. God is wise; He knows how to solve this problem. God is Almighty; He can do impossible things."

From my diary,

June 11,  2024

Surrounded by the righteous

 "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me." Psalm 142:7

When God deals bountifully with one of His children, delivering him and answering his prayers, other children—the righteous ones—surround him to hear his testimony. They rejoice with him and are encouraged, believing that the Lord can do the same for them. They see God's work in his life and praise God.

We praise the Lord for His works and mercy in our lives, and also for His works and mercy in the lives of others.

From my diary,

June 10,  2024

Psalmist’s Resolutions in Psalm 119: I Will Speak…

"I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed." (Psalm 119:46)

The psalmist resolved to meditate on God's Word, delight in it, keep it, praise God for it, walk in freedom, and run in the path of God's commandments. As a result, he is confident that he has something meaningful to share. Thus, he boldly declares: "I will speak of Your testimonies."

In verse 45, the psalmist mentioned walking in freedom. True freedom means not fearing those with the greatest earthly authority and being able to speak of the testimonies of the King of Kings. A lover of God's Word will never be ashamed to testify about it before anyone, even kings. Where there is love for God's Word, there can be no cowardice.

Topical meditation 2024

June 9

 

Psalmist’s Resolutions in Psalm 119: I Will Run…

 

"I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart." (Psalm 119:32)

In yesterday's meditation, I observed the psalmist's confidence in walking in freedom. Today’s verse reveals that he not only walks in freedom but also runs with joy in the path of God's commandments. Running requires effort, persistence, and strength, and the psalmist knows that all of this comes from the Lord. He trusts that the Lord will enlarge his heart. Just as he is sure of the Lord’s help, he is equally sure of his ability to run in the path of the Lord’s commandments.

The psalmist does not want to stop or slow down; instead, he desires to run diligently, trusting in the Lord.

I share this resolution: I will run in the path of the Lord's commandments. And I hold the same conviction: the Lord will enlarge my heart. He will provide me with strength, energy, and patience to run with joy.

Topical meditation 2024

June 8