Morning Blessings

This morning, I gleaned blessings from my time with the Lord that are worth sharing.

In Proverbs 5, the Lord urges His son to pay attention to wisdom, understanding, discretion and knowledge, especially for the sake of avoiding an immoral relationship.

The Lord is for relationships built on mutual respect, care, steadfast commitment, and love.

He says of the immoral of woman, “Her feet go down to death her steps lay hold of hell.” “Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel, lest aliens be filled with your wealth, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner.” [1] This is true of the immoral man as well.

Proverbs is a book of “better-to-do’s.” The Lord’s “better-to-do” for His son is to “Drink water from your own cistern and running water from your own well.” “Let your fountain be blessed and rejoice with the wife of your youth.” “… Always be enraptured with her love.” [2]

In the Gospel of Mark, the Lord’s words “cross,” “Gospel,” “follow,” and “unashamed” stood out to me. Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” [3]

This passage reminds me of how greatly I need our Lord’s grace and mercy. I need Christ’s atoning work on the cross. I need His Spirit to help me. Otherwise, I will not pick up the cross and follow Jesus. I will not share the Gospel with someone in this adulterous and sinful generation. I will be ashamed to speak of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. “Oh how I need You, Lord, to forgive my sins of commission and omission. Please help me to take up my cross, follow You and share Your Gospel with someone unashamedly today.”

So, time with Jesus in His Word leads to prayer. I must call upon the Lord for help, otherwise, I will fail to act upon His Word.

The Bible says that there is none righteous no not one. That we have all fallen short of God’s glory and need to be justified by believing in the merits of His Son for our salvation! That the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus! If anyone believes in Christ and confesses Him with their mouth, they shall be saved! We cannot save ourselves! Repentance is turning from sin and turning to a Savior from sin. The Savior is Jesus Christ! I need to believe this. I need to profess it. [4]

In Psalms, I read, “O, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy Name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!” [5]

Thanking the Lord, calling upon the Lord, and singing to the Lord reminds me of all the wonderful things He does to keep the world going and interesting. He strengthens me as I praise Him, glorify Him and fix my eyes on Him.

[1] Proverbs 5:1-2, 5, 8-10
[2] Proverbs 5: 15, 18-19
[3] Mark 8:34-38
[4] Romans 3:10; 3:22-23; 6:23; 10:9-10; Acts 2:38
[5] Psalm 105:1-4