God’s Delight      

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Don Merritt

The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

As we begin a new work week, isn’t it an amazing thing to pause and reflect on the fact that we are God’s delight? This is quite different than the Monday morning blahs!

Let’s consider this verse: what do we have here?

First, God is with us, even now in the early morning on a Monday following a holiday (in the US).

Second, God who is with us, is a Mighty Warrior who saves… us.

Third, God will take “great delight” in us; even on a Monday morning when we may not be feeling all that delightful.

Fourth, He loves us, and will not accuse us, for He has taken all of that away through the work of His Son.

Finally, rather than rebuking us, He will rejoice in us “with singing”.

A great many people feel like they are not worthy of God’s grace, and maybe on one level they are right, after all, none of is worthy to have God’s grace as some sort of entitlement. Yet God did not provide salvation because we had earned it. No sir, He brought it about out His great love for all of us, in spite of our imperfections (John 3:16).

So here we are at the kitchen table with our first cup of coffee. As we sit here, God is rejoicing in us. Maybe we should also be rejoicing this morning; rejoicing in the One who so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son to set us free from sin, death and the nonsense of this world.

Wow. I’m ready to face the day and the week to come, how about you?

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A Little Reflection

Posted on July 7, 2024 by Don Merritt
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It’s Sunday again; what better day for a little reflection?

Has God been filling your life with blessings?  Has he given you peace in a tough situation?

Well, you see what I mean by reflection…

We spend so much time and energy running ourselves ragged these days, and so much of our lives just rushes by in a sort of blur; we need a moment, so it’s time to seize the moment.  Let’s give thanks to God for all He is doing in our lives, let’s thank Him for all of the ways He’s blessed us.  Let’s recall the great things He has done, like sending His Son to die for our sins.  Let’s take a minute to give Him the praise that is His due for all He is doing in His Body, the Church.  Let’s praise Him for all of those who have come to know Him recently, and for those who continue to grow in their faith, stepping up to lead His people forward to accomplish His purpose.

Let’s take another minute or two to ask Him for the gospel to continue to move forward, that hearts and minds everywhere would be changed, that lives would be given over to Him.

Most of all, let’s take a few moments to sit by His side and ask Him to give us continued strength to go forward in our walk with Him.  Let’s be refreshed in His presence and be renewed in His love.

Hey!  I’m thinking this is going to be an awesome Sunday!

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Where do we have our treasure?

Posted on July 6, 2024 by Don Merritt
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There’s a lot of cash in this picture!

1.3 million German Marks to be exact… yippiee!!!

There’s a problem, however.  They don’t use Marks these days, they use Euros.  There’s another problem.  When these bills were the lawful currency, they were pretty much worthless.  Back in those days, you’d need a bushel basket of these to buy a loaf of bread, so bad was the inflation…

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Where is your treasure?  If your treasure was in German Marks back in the day, your treasure was gone. Is your treasure in cash today? Of course you know where I’m going with this; Jesus taught that we should not store up treasure on earth, but rather that we should store up our treasure in heaven. Of course He was right! You know it and so do I.

So why do so many of us still place our hope and trust in money, insurance, retirement plans and stuff?  One time I went to a ministers’ luncheon and the main topic of conversation was retirement planning.  Another time I went and the main topic was guns, ammo and preparedness. I quit going.

Shouldn’t we be concerned more about serving the Lord than we are with money, investments and guns?  I asked the group if they were planning on spreading the Gospel by using massive firepower… they looked at me like I was crazy.  At least they got that part right.  Where was service, disciple-making and saving the lost? Obviously I was being silly…

Well, maybe I’m not the one who is silly!

I can only speak for myself, but I think we are better off trusting Jesus and His Word than money, and let’s just forget that other stuff.  No, I’m not suggesting that we don’t need to get on in this life; money is an important tool, but it is hardly a reliable one in which to put our hope. The day may come when we need to be able to protect our families from violence or civil discord, but in such a case, I doubt any of us can fight off the whole world in a shootout; I think we would most likely need to ask God for help.

What do you think would happen if we all decided to practice what we preach?   What would happen if we put as much time and effort into doing God’s work as we do with other things? It’s an interesting question to ponder.

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An Ox Named Jake – Redux

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Don Merritt
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Last week while at Mount Vernon, I followed the path out of the woods an came upon George Washington’s Experimental Farm down on the Potomac shore. As I was walking along looking for possible photos, I came upon an intriguing threesome; two oxen and a young lady in period costume trying to brush them.

I commented to the young lady that it looked like she had a fun job and she agreed, “except when Jake is being a jerk like he is now!” Jake is the one with his head down…

It seems that the young lady was trying to brush old Jake, but he wouldn’t let her brush his head, nor as it turned out, would he let her brush his brother, who was behaving like a perfect angel that day. “He won’t let me finish brushing him, and when I try to brush his brother, he throws a fit; he’s so spoiled!”

OK, how can you not laugh at a temperamental ox, an ox with a personality… who knew there was such a thing? I had to ask what she would do if the two of them just decided to head on up the trail; now she’s laughing. “If those two ever decided to do the same thing at the same time, there wouldn’t be much I could do to control 3,000 pounds of oxen,” she replied laughing, “but there isn’t much chance either one will ever decide to do much of anything!”

Come to think of it, I’ve never heard of a smart ox.

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Meanwhile, Jake’s brother seems happy enough with the way things are…

Wait a minute, it’s just hit me! Jake has this young woman waiting on him hand and foot, doing just what he wants her to do!  Maybe I haven’t given oxen enough credit for intelligence; nobody has ever called me “He  Who Must Be Obeyed”!

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It is good…

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Don Merritt
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It is good to praise the Lord
    and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
    and your faithfulness at night,
 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
    and the melody of the harp.

Psalm 92:1-3

As he often did, David has given us a psalm of praise. This one is a little different from some of the others, just as it is a little different from most modern songs of praise. Notice that in this one, David isn’t putting the praise in the future tense. Sometimes I read his psalms or hear modern songs that say we ‘I will praise the Lord’, and then it never really seems to take place; just a promise that at some future point we’ll get around to it.

It may interest you to know at this point that I irritate my wife frequently reacting to what she says instead of what she means. Anyway, this time, David is clear that it is a good thing to praise the Lord both in the morning and in the evening.

The praise in this case is through music, in the morning for God’s great love, and in the evening for God’s steadfastness or faithfulness. That way, we begin our day reminded of God’s love for us, setting a certain tone for the day, perhaps reminding us that He has commanded that just as He has loved us, so too should we love our neighbor. In the evening, when the darkness comes and we prepare to lay down and sleep, David would have us be reminded that God is faithful and steadfast, watching over us through the night, no doubt a great comfort to a man who spent so many years being hunted by his enemies.

Yes, this is a good thing for us too, for what better way is there to begin and end each day by giving all praise and glory to God for all that He has done for us?

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We Hold These Truths…

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Don Merritt

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

As sacred as these words are to many of us, they are not Scripture, but a social compact; the work of men. On this day of all days, I think we should remember that. The thing I find most impressive about these words is the fact that in our first National document, our founders recognized the one thing that makes us different from most others, the fact that we recognize that our rights and liberties come not from the State, but from God alone. These were men who believed that their former government had begun to rescind their rights as citizens, in fact many thought that their government had never recognized them as Englishmen at all, but as mere Colonials who were subservient to Englishmen generally.

But the Rights of Man come only from Almighty God.

I hope that today, as we celebrate once again our independence, that we will ponder this fundamental question: Were the founders right; do human rights come from God, or are they granted by the State? I ask this because in today’s world, this foundational proposition is not very popular. In this time when constitutions are said to live and breathe and change in their meanings to suit the current expedience, many seem to think that rights come from Court decisions, and that they can be given and taken away .

So, why not think it over… and then decide for yourself.

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To Return Home

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Don Merritt

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

Psalm 126:1-3 (NKJV)

David wrote of the time when the captives were able to return to their homeland, to Zion, the mountain where the Lord made His dwelling. He wrote of the pure joy of returning home, to the place where God made His dwelling in the midst of His people; the people were filled with laughter, so great was their happiness. The surrounding nations could see what God had done for them, for indeed, God had done great things for His people.

Have you ever been taken into captivity spiritually? Have you ever felt as though you have been taken far from the place where God dwells in the midst of His people? I’ve had those times, too. Maybe you’re in such a place right now…

For most of us, we don’t come into such a predicament because we were carried off by a foreign army, more likely it was by a series of choices; it might even have taken place because of unwise choices made by other people… and there we are, out in the wilderness alone.

Yet, the good news is that we don’t have to stay in captivity; we can go home again. For the Israelites, going home was a tough thing to do involving an arduous journey, and that might be the case for some of us as well, but God saw them through their trials, and will see us through ours.

There is nothing better in this life than to be in the place where God dwells in the midst of His people; do we really want to stay away for another day?

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Heart Healthy

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Don Merritt

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:19-24

In the ancient near-East, possessions such as fine clothes, precious stones and food were considered necessary to lessen anxieties and insecurity about the future. Jesus sees it differently, for from His point of view, these things do not bring about security in any way, for all can be lost, stolen or ruined in this very difficult and unpredictable world.

In the previous several verses, Jesus has been hammering away at a principle found in Matthew 6:1, namely that we should not be pious or religious to impress others with our great righteousness, for this is not the sort of righteousness that God is interested in. Rather, God is interested in a people who will follow Him, worship Him, and have relationship with Him. Jesus has illustrated this principle with three examples; giving to the needy, prayer and fasting, and now in these verses, Jesus addresses the money issue.

The accumulation of possessions does not increase a person’s security or safety; money cannot buy us years of life or a moment’s happiness. Following God in close relationship, on the other hand, can ensure an eternity of riches in heaven, that nothing can guarantee on this earth, and while there is nothing inherently wrong or evil about either money or possessions, the love of either can (and will) obstruct our relationship with God, placing our eternal future at risk. Can a moment’s comfort on earth be worth risking eternity in heaven?

Sounds like a bad idea to me, and Jesus would seem to agree.

Jesus told us in verse 21 that where our treasure is, our hearts will be also, then at the end of this passage, He tells us that we cannot serve two masters; God and money. When you consider these two statements together, it become crystal clear that if we try to serve both, our hearts will be torn in two. I’m guessing now, but I strongly suspect that a cardiologist would tell you that if your heart is torn in two, you won’t be around long enough to adequately serve either of your “masters”.

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Summer’s Story

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Don Merritt
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A lot of people I know only think of the summer time as hot and muggy; I think they might be missing something…

I’ve always thought of summer as a glorious time, but I must admit that early on that was just because I didn’t have to go to school.

I took a drive one day, and summer’s story was all around.  You could see it in the backyard BBQ’s where friends and family were gathered together.  You could see it in the small town festivals where communities are gathered.  You can see it in the church VBS  announcements where little kids will hear all about Jesus, and their parents and other adults will experience godly service for others.

You can see summer’s stories driving through farm country and seeing growing green fields as far as the horizon in every direction.  No, don’t say that is a boring sight!  This is where men and God work together to feed the nations and I daresay we’d all notice if it wasn’t going on.  Summer is a time when many have a chance to relax and recharge, to vacation with family and to just slow down a bit.  You can sit outside in the evening and hear the symphony of the land, the late calls of birds and the rustle of leaves in the trees, and you can enjoy the sight of the tiger lilies bright orange all around. Yes sir, the whole of Creation is teeming withy life.

Yes, I’d say summer has a lot to tell if anybody cares to notice.

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God is My Refuge

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Don Merritt

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3

Each new week comes with its perils as well as with its opportunities, and this week is not likely to be different from the rest. These times we are living in are times of uncertai9nty for many for a number of reasons, for uncertainty is the theme of the times for many of us. The economic situation; high prices, wages not keeping up. Lowering standards of living for most of us, rising crime in our cities- what’s next? The world situation isn’t all that stable at the moment: The war in Ukraine, the Middle East; China and North Korea rattling their sabers while President Biden appeared unwell the other day in a debate- who is making the big decisions?

Friends, it’s getting weird out there.

As each of us comes to grips with our own worries, concerns and perceived vulnerabilities of whatever nature, we may begin to feel alone, isolated and even a bit confused, and we might start to imagine disaster everywhere we look.

It is in times like these that we really need to pause and reflect on the larger picture, and when we do, we quickly see that God is right here with us in both good times and bad times. He is the source of our strength and our refuge. In Him is our hope; our hope is not in human things. When we are alone, He is with us. When we are weak, He is strong. When we despair, He brings us hope.

With that in mind, let’s turn our attention to the opportunities before us this week. Opportunities to grow in His presence, opportunities to serve His purpose by serving those around us, and opportunities to grow in the way of His love for all of us.

In spite of everything, things are beginning to look bright after all.

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