My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. —Psalm 131:1-2              Pride has “I” in the middle, is self-focused and does not exalt the Lord.  In Romans 12:3-8 we read— “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each…

When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.  She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your…

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. —Acts 8:4 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. —Acts 8:12              Here we see the Great Co-Mission being applied.  When a great persecution broke out, led by Saul, believers were scattered.  “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”  Isn’t that what we should be about as well wherever we are?  As we are faithful to what Jesus has commanded us, to be witness and make disciples (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:16-20), fruit will…

Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.  What kind of house will you build for me?  says the Lord.  Or where will my resting place be?  Has not my hand made all these things? —Acts 7:49-50              This is truly astounding as we think of our Creator living in those who have called on Jesus (Ephesians 1:13-14; I Corinthians 6:19-20).  He is so grand and so awesome.  How can the Eternal reside in the temporal?  But He does!  Of the Holy Spirit Jesus said, “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and…

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. —Psalm 127:4-5              We had a family gathering this past weekend with my daughter, Hannah, and her family.  It is truly amazing when you watch the children of your children.  Elaine and I have surely been blessed by our Lord—“May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.”  Yes, we were able to enjoy our grandchildren whether in New York or in New Hampshire.  I so enjoyed seeing my children and grandchildren having fun together and for all of us to gather to be with the church on…

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. —I Kings 4:29 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. —Acts 6:10              God is the One who reveals knowledge to people as He did to Solomon and as He did to Stephen.  He gives insight and understanding to people as much as He desires.  And so, as we think of each follower of Jesus, “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).  Indeed, if God…

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead… But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.—Acts 4:1-2, 4 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:12              If “salvation is found in no one else,” and that is the case, and if “there is no other…

I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” —II Samuel 24:24 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. —Acts 4:8 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. —Acts 4:15              Look what it cost God for our salvation!  David would not offer to the Lord something that cost him nothing, but what David offered the Lord pales in comparison to when God offered up His only Son for our salvation.  Think about this— Jesus is called “the author of life.”              Think…

You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. —II Samuel 22:29 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. —Proverbs 16:20 ‘For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).  One day we did not just say, “Hey, I think I will come out of the darkness and be a child of the Lord and have light in the Lord.”  No… “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of…

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:4-5, 8 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty). —Acts 1:15 I lift up my eyes to the…