Marching Forth!

" Do not trust in oppression, n or vainly hope in robbery;  i f riches increase,  d o not set your heart on them. 11  God has spoken once, t wice I have heard this:  t hat power belongs to God ." Psalm 62:10-11 It is easy for Christians who trust God to begin to place their faith in other things.  Though our hearts are to be fixed on the LORD and our confidence in His Word, a subtle shift can occur.  That is a reason David exhorts the reader to not place our hope in uncertain riches.  Money brings with it the power to obtain but dollars can also exert power over any who discover comfort in them. David wrote, " Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery... " and the English definitions of the original Hebrew words provide clarity.  I imagine very few of us would admit we "trust in oppression, " and oppression is translated from a word which is defined in the Strong's concordance as, "injury, fraud, distress, unjust gain...

It occurred to me recently that the health of the church is not best measured by church attendance or financial giving but in personal holiness.  The sanctification for Christ of each individual member does a great deal to provide strength and fruitfulness in the church.  The whole church is comprised of many individual members, and our connection to Christ as our head (individually and corporately) places us in a humble posture to be led by the Spirit.  At some point we must take personal responsibility to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God according to His Word ( Micah 6:8 ).  When our hearts are hardened in sin, however, solid biblical teaching or Spirit-led worship will not force godly transformation upon us. It is a remarkable thing that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of God's people who repent of their sin and trust Him.  The thing which I find beyond comprehension is God gives us choices all along, never forcing u...

I am amazed by the way God opens doors unexpectedly.  Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting with three senior chaplains in the NSW police force.  For some time (off and on) I had been praying about how churches or myself could support and encourage our local police, and perhaps this meeting was a first step in God's answer to that question.  As we concluded the meeting with prayer, exchanging details and shaking hands, I was given a Bible printed by the Bible Society Australia tailored for police.  Within the pages (in addition to scripture) are topical articles and prayers. When I looked closely at the cover, I noticed in the NSW Police Seal a motto written in Latin:  "CULPAM POENA PREMIT COMES."  Since I do not understand Latin I turned to Google for the translation which basically means, " Punishment swiftly follows crime. "  I had never considered what a good motto would be for a police force, but I suppose it is a good one because the ide...

How good God is to those who fear Him!  God is good to all men beyond measure, but those who trust and seek the LORD can receive the full benefits as His dear children.  All the gifts God graciously provides for men and beast on earth will end, for this world is passing away.  But blessings from God are retained by those who receive the Gospel and inherit eternal life for Christ is our inheritance who abides with us and we with Him.  All men are freely offered the blessings of God's kingdom, but only those who repent and trust in Him can receive and retain them all. See what the psalmist wrote in  Psalm 103:1-5 :  " Bless the LORD , O my soul;  a nd all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD , O my soul, a nd forget not all His benefits: 3  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your m...