CONVICTIONS

“Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104 NKJV).

Unlike most folks in our society today who lacks convictions about right and wrong, the Psalmist did not lack convictions. Our verse speaks of the cause of his convictions and the character of his convictions.

Cause of his convictions – “Through Your precepts I get understanding.” It was the precepts or the Word of the Lord which gave the Psalmist convictions about right and wrong. The Word of God is the great enlightener on what is right and wrong. If folks would get into the Word of God more earnestly, they would have better convictions about right and wrong than what we are seeing in our world and in our churches.

Character of his convictions - “I hate every false way.” The character of the Psalmist’s convictions were strong, sanctified, and steadfast.

1. Strong convictions. “Hate.” Many convictions are nothing more than opinions which change frequently. If we are going to have convictions that are worthwhile, they must be strong. The person who gets into the Word of God will indeed “hate” evil.

2. Sanctified convictions. “Hate every false way.” What we love and what we hate tells much about our character. Some people love evil and hate truth and righteousness. However, those who get into the Word of God will hate evil, not truth and righteousness.

3. Steadfast convictions. “Every false way.” By hating “every false way” shows that the convictions of the Psalmist were steadfast. There is no hypocrisy here: those who get into the Word of God will be steadfast in hating “every false way.”

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Our lives are never more secure than when they are abandoned to God!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Division

In Luke 12:51 we read, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division!” (NKJV).

Division is the Greek word diamerismos (διαμερισμός = dee-am-er-is-mos'). It is made up of two words: “diá” denoting separation and “merízō” which means to divide. Thus, the word describes a division into partisan and contentious units. It carries the idea of opposition, dissension, disunity and hostility.

Here the Lord Jesus says that His coming and His accomplishments on the Cross will bring division, a division between believers and unbelievers. A decision to follow the Lord Jesus mean change in relationships. “From now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son . . ., mother against daughter” (Luke 12:52-53).

Friends and family will misunderstand the believer after they start living for Christ. Some may even accuse the believer of thinking they are better than them. He might even be shun. In this way, the Lord Jesus is a divider of families and friends. It hurts to be ridiculed or rejected by those close to us. Yes, the Lord is a divider of people - but believers are united with Him, and He will never leave us.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be betrayed by a friend not an enemy (Psalm 55:12-14)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 13:18

Did You Know…

In Genesis 3, Eve, an immaculately created virgin, says yes to Lucifer and allows Adam to bring sin into the world. Eve came forth from Adam. In the New Testament, Mary, an immaculately created virgin, says yes to Gabriel, which allows Jesus to bring salvation to the world (Luke 1). Jesus came forth from Mary.

Bible Quiz

God told Abraham to leave which land to travel to the land of Canaan?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: Adam named his wife Eve. What does her name mean? "Mother of all living" (Gen. 3:20).

Everyday Expressions Alluded to in the Bible

"Devil made me do it”

“And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate!” (Gen. 3:13 NKJV).

“Devil made me do it” - The expression “devil made me do it” carries the idea of blaming others for your problems. Because of sin and disobedience, Adam and Eve both fell from their perfect state. They were now blaming each other, criticizing and accusing each other. When Eve is confronted, she tries to justify herself by blaming the serpent. Neither Adam nor Eve will take responsibility for their sin.

We are still passing the buck today; it is blame anybody but yourself and especially blame God. Yet, only when we look at our sin as God sees it, can we begin to get victory in our life over temptation and sin. It is our pride that keeps us from doing this and it eventually destroys us. Scripture reminds us that "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble" (Jam. 4:6)

Did You Know – Christian History

William Walford was born in 1772 in Coleshill, Warwickshire, England. He was blind, but this did not make him worthless. On the contrary, as he sat by the fire in his English home in the mid-nineteenth century, his hands kept busy, whittling out useful objects, such as shoehorns. His mind was active, too.

An elderly man, Walford owned a small novelty shop in Coleshire, England. Day by day, he would sit in the chimney corner, carving and polishing pieces of bone to make shoehorns and other useful items for sale. As he worked, he would commune with the Lord in prayer, sometimes putting together thoughts to be shared in church the following Sunday.

Walford had no formal education. But the Lord had given him an amazing memory. Called on to preach from time to time in a rural English church, Walford would compose sermons in his head to deliver on Sundays. He memorized a huge amount of the Bible which he quoted verbatim in his sermons. When he stepped into the pulpit, the blind preacher was able to quote Scripture passages word for word, giving chapter and verse, with hardly a slip.

One day in 1842, an American clergyman named Tom Salmon visited Mr. Walford’s little shop. Apparently, the old man talked with him about the theme of prayer, and the delight he took in fellowship with the Lord. He then asked if Pastor Salmon would write down some lines of verse he had composed. The hymn was published in the Observer on this day, September 13, 1845. Walford’s poem became the beloved hymn "Sweet Hour of Prayer."

A Little Humor

Pastor: “So your mother says your prayers with you every night? What does she says?”

Little Billy: Thank God, he’s in bed.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“The gospel is a delicious meal - not a bitter pill!”