(Psalm 103)
Praise the LORD, my soul!
All my being, praise his holy name!
Praise the LORD, my soul, and do not
Forget how kind he is.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He keeps me from the grave and blesses
me with love and mercy.
He fills my life with good things,
so that I stay young and strong like an eagle.
The LORD judges in favor of the oppressed
and gives them their rights.
He revealed his plans to Moses and let
The people of Israel see his mighty deeds.
The LORD is merciful and loving, slow
to become angry and full of constant love.
He does not keep on rebuking;
he is not angry forever.
He does not punish us as we deserve or repay
us according to our sins and wrongs.
As high as the sky is above the earth, so great
is his love for those who have reverence for him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our sins from us.
As a father is kind to his children,
so kind is the LORD to those who honor him.
He knows what we are made of;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for us, our life is like grass.
We grow and flourish like a wild flower;
then the wind blows on it, and it is gone –
no one sees it again.
But for those who honor the LORD,
his love lasts forever,
and his goodness endures for all generations
of those who are true to his covenant
and who faithfully obey his commands.
The LORD place his throne in heaven;
he is king over all.
Praise the LORD, you strong and mighty angels,
who obey his commands,
who listen to what he says.
Praise the LORD, all you heavenly powers,
you servants of his, who do his will!
Praise the LORD, all his creatures in all the places
he rules.
Praise the LORD, my soul!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
7.3 We Are God’s Children And We Will See Him As He Is
(1 John 3:1-3)
See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children – and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us: it has not known God. My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is. Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure.
See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children – and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us: it has not known God. My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is. Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure.
Friday, December 12, 2008
7.2 Before, We Were Slaves; Now, We Are Children of God
(Galatians 4:1-7)
But now to continue – the son who will receive his father’s property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything. While he is young, there are men who take care of him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. In the same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe before we reached spiritual maturity. But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God’s sons.
To show that you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” So then, you are no longer a slave but a son. And since you are his son, God will give you all that he has for his sons.
But now to continue – the son who will receive his father’s property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything. While he is young, there are men who take care of him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. In the same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe before we reached spiritual maturity. But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God’s sons.
To show that you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” So then, you are no longer a slave but a son. And since you are his son, God will give you all that he has for his sons.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
7.1 From The Beginning God Cares For His Children
(Hosea 11:1-4)
The LORD says,
“When Israel was a child, I loved him
and called him out of Egypt as my son.
But the more I called to him,
The more he turned away from me.
My people sacrificed to Baal;
They burned incense to idols.
Yet I was the one who taught Israel to walk.
I took my people up in my arms,
But they did not acknowledge that I took care
of them.
I drew them to me with affection and love.
I picked them up and held them to my cheek;
I bent down to them and fed them.
The LORD says,
“When Israel was a child, I loved him
and called him out of Egypt as my son.
But the more I called to him,
The more he turned away from me.
My people sacrificed to Baal;
They burned incense to idols.
Yet I was the one who taught Israel to walk.
I took my people up in my arms,
But they did not acknowledge that I took care
of them.
I drew them to me with affection and love.
I picked them up and held them to my cheek;
I bent down to them and fed them.
Monday, December 8, 2008
6.4 Human Wickedness And Divine Providence
(Psalm 36)
Sin speaks to the wicked man deep in his heart;
He rejects God and does not have reverence for him
Because he thinks so highly of himself,
He thinks that God will not discover
His sin and condemn it.
His speech is wicked and full of lies;
He no longer does what is wise and good.
He makes evil plans as he lies in bed;
Nothing he does is good,
And he never rejects anything evil.
LORD, your constant love reaches the heavens;
Your faithfulness extends to the skies.
Your righteousness is towering like the mountains;
Your justice is like the depths of the sea.
Men and animals are in your care.
How precious, O God, is your constant love!
We find protection under the shadow of your wings.
We feast on the abundant food you provide;
You let us drink from the river of your goodness.
You are the source of all life,
And because of your light we see the light.
Continue to love those who know you
And to do good to those who are righteous.
Do not let proud men attack me or wicked men
Make me run away.
See where evil men have fallen.
There they lie, unable to rise.
Sin speaks to the wicked man deep in his heart;
He rejects God and does not have reverence for him
Because he thinks so highly of himself,
He thinks that God will not discover
His sin and condemn it.
His speech is wicked and full of lies;
He no longer does what is wise and good.
He makes evil plans as he lies in bed;
Nothing he does is good,
And he never rejects anything evil.
LORD, your constant love reaches the heavens;
Your faithfulness extends to the skies.
Your righteousness is towering like the mountains;
Your justice is like the depths of the sea.
Men and animals are in your care.
How precious, O God, is your constant love!
We find protection under the shadow of your wings.
We feast on the abundant food you provide;
You let us drink from the river of your goodness.
You are the source of all life,
And because of your light we see the light.
Continue to love those who know you
And to do good to those who are righteous.
Do not let proud men attack me or wicked men
Make me run away.
See where evil men have fallen.
There they lie, unable to rise.
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