One of the blessings of Christian friendship is to encourage each other to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and the coming of His kingdom.– Joel Beeke and Michael Haykin
in How Should We Develop Biblical Friendship?
– Joel Beeke in Revelation
Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.
Sky over Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Here are some good posts for small-town pastors:
A Small Church in a Mega-Church World – Joshua Jenkins (FTC)
A Simple Way to Pray for a Small Congregation – Michael Herrington (TGC)
We Are Open! The Story of Little Mill Church – Colin Berg (EM)
The goal of Revelation is to bring encouragement to believers of all ages that God is working out His purposes even in the midst of tragedy, suffering, and apparent Satanic domination. It is the Bible’s battle cry of victory, for in it, more than anywhere else in the NT, is revealed the final victory of God over all the forces of evil. As such, it is an encouragement to God’s people to persevere in the assurance that their final reward is certain and to worship and glorify God despite trials and despite temptations to march to the world’s drumbeat.
– G.K. Beale in Revelation
Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.
(120, 123, 124, 129) In what difficult situations does the psalmist need help in these psalms?
In what ways do you face similar situations today?
(120-121, 123) To whom does the psalmist look for help?
What picture does the psalmist paint in Psalm 123? How is this a helpful picture?
(121, 124) Where does our help come from (121:1-2, 124:8)? Why is it important for us to grasp this? Where else might we look?
What does the psalmist say about his helper in those verses? Why is that important?
(121) In what ways does God keep us according to this psalm? How have you experienced this?
(125) Not only does God help and keep us, but he also surrounds us (v2). How is this a helpful picture?
(122) What help does the psalmist seek for Jerusalem? Why?
What reasons do we have to be glad to go to the house of the Lord today? Were you glad to come today?
(127) What help do we need from God in our work (v1-2)? What lessons can we learn from this truth?
What help do we need from the Lord in our families? How does this recognition affect our view of children? How does this recognition compare with our culture’s various views?
(120-129) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?
Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.
Tim Challies recently finished an excellent series on eight things God hates. In Challies’ words:
The God who loves must also hate. The God who loves all that is good and pure and holy must hate all that is evil and defiled and perverse.
Last week I provided links to the first four posts. Below are links to the final four. Again I encourage you to take the time to read them, and examine your life. Where do you see these tendencies in your life? For which of these might you need to repent and find forgiveness in the sacrifice of our Savior?
Brian J. Mikul 