Savoring the Scripture

Be Imitators of His Faithfulness But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. 2 Corinthians 1:18 Paul took seriously his responsibility to imitate Christ. He had been personally commissioned by Jesus to be His ambassador and His witness. Paul knew that he was to be an example to believers, newer and older alike, of the character of Jesus. For those Paul was teaching and training, he would be the living example to them of the ways of Christ. He wanted his life to mirror that of Christ to such a degree that he could tell those under his care, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ”(1 Corinthians 11:1). And In 2 Corinthians 1:17-20 to demonstrate his trustworthiness to the Corinthians he says, “But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no” (1:18). Changes in Paul’s plans had been used by the Corinthians to question Paul’s truthfulness and unwavering word. But Paul labors to show them that God is faithful, and just as He is faithful, so also Paul and hi...

His Steadfast Love: the bedrock for the believer Psalm 117 He is a God of uncompromising justice, and yet mercy. A God with a backbone of steel, and a warm heart of compassion toward His people “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” His love is not thin, fleeting, or fragile. His love is not impulsive or unreliable. For His people, His heart is tender, gentle, lowly. And with staying power—steadfast and unchanging. David Mathis Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm and shortest chapter in the Bible. The psalmist directs our hearts in praise to God reminding us of the Lord’s steadfast love toward us and His faithfulness that endures forever (117:2). Praise acknowledges the worthiness of the Lord by putting into words, and also song, the truth of His character and how that anchors our soul. My aim in this post is two-fold. I want to look briefly at the definitions of His steadfast love and faithfulness and help us to speak praise to Him for who He is but also for how that truth helps ...

Prayer for a Steadfast Heart Psalm 57 We may in times of great straits expect mercies of a remarkable kind. Charles Spurgeon In the book of Philippians, Paul is writing to the Philippians while he sits in jail. He loves them deeply and desires that they continue to pursue Christ. He knows they are suffering and yet he encourages them that this is a gracious gift given to them in order that they may know Christ more deeply (Philippians 1:29; 3:10). He himself is suffering but rejoicing even in his imprisonment. And he tells them he is pressing on and straining forward “toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14). He is able to press on, to remain steadfast and diligent, “because Christ has made me his own” (3:12). Christ had made Paul his own.  If we are in Christ today it is because Christ has made us His own. He has purchased us with His precious blood. He has redeemed us from the power of sin and death. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Himself. There i...