Sē’lah

August 29, 2014

Sē’lah

I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.

Psalm 3:5

Near the end of King David’s reign, his son Absalom led a rebellion against David and seized the throne of Israel. This incident is included in Gene Edward’s book, A Tale of Three Kings which chronicles David’s relationship with both King Saul and his son Absalom. (I believe this book is a Christian classic and should be in the personal library of every Christian.) Psalm 3 was written by King David in the midst of Absalom’s rebellion. David responded to the revolt by expressing his deep trust in God: if God wants me to be on the throne, no one can take it away; if God doesn’t want me on the throne, there is nothing I can do to keep it.

It is in the midst of adversity, both big and small, that the depth of our Life in Christ is revealed. The adversity may involve something as simple as someone being rude or cutting us off in traffic, or perhaps we see everything we have worked for being lost through divorce, business failure or personal bankruptcy. How we respond to these circumstances reveals what we believe about God and how deeply Christ has transformed our life.

The word Sē’lah is used three times in Psalm 3. It is translated, Interlude, in the NLT, which comes pretty close to describing its meaning.  But Sē’lah is more than an interlude; in this context, it is taking the time to think and reflect on what has been written. David’s circumstances had not changed, but he was able to rest because he knew the Lord was watching over him. Taking the time to reflect on God’s nature allowed David to lie down and sleep in the midst of his greatest adversity.

In Philippians, the Apostle Paul writes, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

When you are facing an adversity, make time to Sē’lah, to pause and reflect on God’s nature. Remember that the Lord is watching over you, and rest in the assurance of His love for you.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

Go!

August 28, 2014

Go!

All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” And they praised God because of me.

Galatians 1:23-24

Many years ago I made arrangements to visit a young man in the hospital who was under police guard. As I approached his room I was stopped by an Officer. I identified myself and told him I had received permission from his Captain to visit the young man. The Officer responded, “Who are you?” I again gave my name and repeated that I had been authorized to make this visit. He again asked, “Yeah, I go that, but who are you?” He was trying to establish my credentials; was I an attorney, relative, or friend of the family? None of the above. All I could do was repeat myself. Eventually the Officer gave up and allowed me to make the visit.

The Apostle Paul was in a similar situation. He had moved on after first proclaiming the Good News in Galatia, and other Christians, who took exception to Paul not requiring Gentile converts to keep the Law of Moses, had moved in. The issue of Paul’s credentials, his authority to lead the church, had been called into question. The issue of who has the authority to speak for Christ is still an issue for the Christian movement today.

By that time, Paul had been completely accepted by the church leaders in Jerusalem, and he had been commissioned as an evangelist to the Gentiles. His authority was undeniable; yet he never relied on that ecclesiastical authority in making his case to the Galatians. As the old adage goes, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Paul reported that the Christians in Jerusalem knew that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” And they praised God because of me” (Galatians 1:23-24).

Paul isn’t teaching us that clergy credentials don’t matter. He is teaching us that while they certainly have their purpose and place, there is something else that is more important. Is there fruit? Is their ministry making disciples for Jesus Christ? Can you see evidence that they are building for the Kingdom of God?

By the way, the young man I went to see in the hospital was there because he had tried to commit suicide. He was under guard because he had been arrested for dealing in drugs. I went to see him to share my faith in Christ and offer the hope of Christ to him. We prayed at the end of my visit and I left him thumbing through the Gideon Bible. He called me the next day to tell me that after reading Psalm 32 he had prayed and asked Jesus to be his Savior. This was several years before I became a credentialed minister. I was just plain ole John Q. Church-Layman. Paul didn’t make a big deal out of his church credentials because he wanted to be clear that it is Jesus that authorizes us, each and every one of us, to go and make disciples for the Kingdom of God.

Go!

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

Meditating on God’s Nature

August 27, 2014

Meditating on God’s Nature

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly

Psalm 1:6a

Jesus’ prayer life was grounded in scripture, especially the Book of Psalms. In his teaching, Jesus quotes from the Psalms more than twenty times.  If we want to go deeper into the heart of Christ and the mind of Christ, the Psalms will teach us much. We find Jesus described in the very first psalm.

While some newer Bibles translate verse one gender neutral as “happy are those” or “blessed are those”, the original text uses a word that is very gender specific and should be translated, “Blessed is the man.” Jesus is this perfect man who delights “in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). As followers of Jesus, yielding ourselves to be transformed to become like him, Psalm 1 gives us a clear example of how to order our lives. Seriously? Is it really possible for a mortal human being to get excited about meditating on God’s law day and night?

When the Psalmist refers to ‘the law’ they do not mean just the Ten Commandments or other rules and regulations aimed at restricting certain behaviors. They mean law, as in God’s nature. God is love. God’s nature is to forgive. God’s law includes His love that cannot fail, His Word that does not return to Him void, and His mercies that never come to an end. The Psalmist has in mind the law of God that looked at a world that did not exist and spoke it into being by the power of His Word. The law of God is summed up in one verse: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The Psalmist pronounces God’s blessing on those who take time to reflect on all the ways you have experienced God’s law, His nature in your life. Meditate on how you have experienced His mercies and forgiveness, His favor and how you know God to be your Shepherd. Take time to remember that the LORD watches over your path and then you will agree with the Psalmist in saying “Oh, the joys of those who delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night” Psalm 1:1-2).

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

God Is For Me

August 26, 2014

God Is For Me

This I know, that God is for me.

Psalm 56:9b (NRSV)

Take a few moments and look at your calendar for today. Consider all the interactions you will have with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Now, purpose in your heart that before you engage in any contact with others, you will remember that God is for you! Listen for the voice of God speaking to you, reminding you to be at peace. Recall that God knows everything about you. He knows the stuff you call fear and failure, success and potential. You have God’s love and affection. No, you don’t deserve God’s love, and you can’t pay for it either. God chooses to love you. He created and redeemed you, and He doesn’t, not even for one second, have buyer’s remorse! Open your heart and mind and receive the seemingly incomprehensible love of God for you. Let this truth permeate deep within your consciousness and let it guide you throughout this day.

“Pray without ceasing” is the counsel Saint Paul gave his friends in Thessalonica. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Have you ever wondered how to do that? You can! Just remember, it is possible to do by training what is impossible to do by trying. Purpose in your heart to keep your mind focused throughout the day on God’s love for you, and you will be praying without ceasing. Another training exercise is remembering Psalm 119:14 before you go into a meeting: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” If you keep this psalm in the forefront of your mind and you will be praying without ceasing, and if you will allow God’s unfailing love for you to inform the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart, I guarantee your words and meditations will be pleasing unto Him.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.