TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:1-6
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. - Luke 16:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent article described the now-sunken city of Port Royal in Jamaica, once called 'the wickedest city on earth.' It was a raucous place where debauchery of every kind was practiced. Illicit wealth poured into Port Royal from British pirates who plundered Spanish ships and cities in the West Indies. But a sudden earthquake buried most of the city in June 1692, and today the only way to explore the remains is with diving gear.

It may seem like a long way from Port Royal, Jamaica, to the fifth chapter of James written in first-century Palestine. But there's an important connection the disaster that comes on those who build their mansions on thievery and the misery of others, and who indulge their material pleasures at the cost of someone else's needs.

James saved his strongest rebuke for corrupt rich people who exploit and abuse others. We would like to think there wasn't anyone like this in the church to which James wrote. But the direct way he addressed them (v. 1) suggests that James expected at least some of the people he was chastising to hear his letter read in the church.

If wealth in itself is not sinful, then the fact that these people were well off wasn't the problem. The problem was the sinful way they had gained and were using their money.

For instance, the reference to moths and corrosion (vv. 2-3) reflects Jesus' warning against spending our lives hoarding material things (Matt. 6:19). So the rich people of James 5 were greedy for gain. They were like the comic book character who kept his money piled in huge bins and liked to play with it occasionally.

These people were also dishonest. They defrauded their poor workers, who needed each day's wages to buy food for their families. But while their laborers went away hungry, the rich lived extravagantly. James 6 suggests they even murdered innocent people who didn't have the clout to defend themselves.

Talk about a test of genuine faith. Those who heard James' condemnation, knowing it applied to them, couldn't hide behind outward displays of religion as a covering for their sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There were probably poor believers in the early church who were being abused and exploited by the rich.

Treating other people justly sometimes seem like an elusive goal in a complex society. But God's Word gives us clear direction on the way we are to handle our personal business and treat people. Today, let's pray that we as individuals, and the body of Christ as a whole, will be known as people of uncompromising integrity.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:7-9
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. - James 5:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dr. John MacArthur points out the central place that the hope of Christ's return should play in the lives of His people. 'Three times in [James 5:7-9], James refers to the believer's great hope, the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The realization that things won't always be as they are now, that believers are headed for 'the city . . . whose architect and builder is God' (Heb. 11:10), provides great hope for those undergoing persecution. The more persecuted a church is the more eagerly it anticipates the return of Jesus Christ.'

James' readers needed patience for several reasons. Being patient in the face of

persecution was one of them. We pointed out yesterday that some of these Christians were almost certainly among those being exploited by the rich and powerful. One way we react to mistreatment is to strike out at others, even those who aren't responsible for our problem (James 5:9).

But patient endurance is the better way. At this point we need to turn to James 1:2-4 and remember that the purpose of trials is to mature and strengthen us, not frustrate us. A farmer doesn't have any choice but to wait for fall and spring rains. But his patience is rewarded with a 'valuable crop.'

The hope of Christ's coming is the answer to impatience and grumbling in the face of hard times. Those who feel like they are going to collapse under the weight of a trial can find strength to 'stand firm' (v. in the knowledge that Jesus Christ is coming back. Then He will relieve His people of their suffering and reward them for faithful service.

The Lord's return also has a purifying effect on His people. John wrote, 'Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as [God] is pure' (1 John 3:3). Most people who are expecting a special guest at any minute wouldn't be caught with a dirty, messed-up house.

Part of the urgency of James' appeal is that Jesus' coming is so near. The expected guest is already 'standing at the door!' (James 5:9). From the standpoint of God's plan, nothing is holding back the return of Christ. And since God does not measure time the way we do (2 Pet. 3:8-9), we need to make sure our lives are in good order to meet Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Someone has said that whenever God allowed hard times in the Bible, the problem always 'came to pass,' not to stay.

That means our problems are temporary, too. That may not seem to be the case for you right now, but the same Word that urges us to be patient also tells us that our patience will be rewarded. Ask God today to give you the strength to be faithful to Him one more day, if that's your need. You may also know a hurting friend who needs this word of encouragement today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:10-11
If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. - 1 Peter 2:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
The early church father Justin was born in 100 A.D. Many false rumors had grown up in the pagan Roman world concerning Christians and their practices, but Justin defended his fellow believers and appealed to the Roman government for better treatment of Christians. After a public debate in which Justin defeated Crescens, a philosopher opposed to Christianity, Crescens took revenge by having Justin arrested. The Roman official in charge tried to make Justin offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, but he refused. For his defense of the truth, Justin was beheaded in 165 A.D., and came to be known as Justin Martyr.

When you're going through a hard time and need a reason to hang in there, it's encouraging to remember that others before you endured their tests patiently. Justin is a good example of this, because his martyrdom so touched the believers who came after him that they were the ones who gave him the name 'martyr.'

The recipients of James' letter also needed this kind of patient determination in the face of hardships. We aren't told exactly what they were going through. But Peter's first letter gives several clues that the Jewish believers scattered throughout the Roman world were undergoing some form of persecution (1 Pet. 2:20; 4:12).

James told his fellow believers that faithfulness to God has always come at a price. The Old Testament prophets

suffered all kinds of verbal and physical abuse for their message. And the mention of Job reminds us that we won't always know the reason for our suffering.

But trying to figure it all out isn't the point anyway. The blessing is in patiently enduring the test. Here again James shows a familiarity with the teaching of his half-brother, the Lord Jesus (Matt. 5:10, 12).

Notice two encouraging things in verse 11. Job's case wasn't over until God 'finally brought about' His good purpose. God always has the last word in any trial. And because He 'is full of compassion and mercy,' we can confidently trust ourselves to His care.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may know that in 1999, countless thousands of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world are undergoing persecution, harassment and martyrdom in some cases.

The twentieth century will go into the history books as the one with the greatest number of Christians persecuted or killed. These people are not numbers in statistical reports. They are fellow saints. Sudan, Pakistan, China, and Vietnam are just four of an estimated sixty countries where Christians are subject to some form of ill treatment. Please pray for the believers in these countries today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:12; Matthew 5:33-37
Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No,' no, or you will be condemned. - James 5:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the 18th century, when commerce was developing very fast, merchants had no need for written documents to complete a business deal. Big money transactions were made just on the basis of the parties' 'word of honor' and a handshake.

When nowadays we listen to public figures toss words around, it becomes clear that in the 1990s, words can mean whatever the speaker wants them to mean. A simple 'yes' or 'no' is not enough. We need contracts signed in the presence of lawyers, notarized documents, oaths in courts. And even all this may not be a guarantee of complete truthfulness of words and intent. People break contracts, renege on their agreements, and commit perjuries.

Yes, the world has become more complex and our lives more hectic at the end of the 20th century. We do things differently now. But there are some principles of God's Kingdom that don't change for the followers of Jesus no matter when they live.

Can you imagine the apostle James engaging in deliberate doublespeak to cloud his true intent? Neither can we! This straight-talking spokesman for God had no tolerance for false words of any kind, especially those that were cloaked in the guise of a solemn oath.

That's what today's reading is all about. People in James' day had developed an elaborate system of oath-taking to avoid invoking God's name, which would make the pledge binding. They would swear by almost anything else to leave themselves a hole through which they could wriggle and not keep their word.

The Bible does not disapprove of making oaths. God 'swore by Himself' when He made His covenant with Abraham (Heb. 6:13). In a world of liars, people are often asked to swear to the truthfulness of their words.

But the apostle's point, which echoed perfectly the teaching of Jesus, was that for God's people a simple yes or no should do the job. The intent behind our words should be so transparent we don't need to call heaven and earth to witness that we're telling the truth. Keep it simple, James says, or expect God's judgment. He doesn't tolerate liars.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Here's an exercise in truth-telling that you can do with the family or a group of friends this weekend.

Sit down together and brainstorm a list of situations in which people are asked to take vows or swear to the truthfulness of information (for example, a wedding, a courtroom, applying for a license or other legal document). Talk about the consequences a person might suffer for lying in these cases, and then discuss God's demand for honesty on the part of His people.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:13-15
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. - Ephesians 6:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
An old standard in preacher's sayings is that a man of God should be ready to 'preach, pray, or sing' at a moment's notice.

Judging by the opening verse of today's Scripture reading, those last two activities are good advice, not just for pastors but for every Christian. People who have a prayer or a song of praise to God always on the tip of their tongues aren't going to get into much trouble with their words.

James' approach is very practical. He proves it again here. If you're in trouble and have been driven to your knees, James says, go ahead and pray while you're down there! And if your heart is bursting with praise, let it out.

If the text ended there, we could go home without any controversy or questions. But verses 14-15 are very much a part of James' teaching on prayer. And when all the speculations are laid aside and the text is read at face value, we discover that the 'prayer offered in faith' is also a very practical matter.

The advice to a sick believer to seek out the church's spiritual leaders isn't really controversial. We all want prayer offered on our behalf when we're hurting. The anointing oil was symbolic of God's presence in the Old Testament, and it may have had some medicinal value too. But clearly, James doesn't assign any special healing power to the oil. God is the healer, not our prayers or anything else.

The promise of verse 15 is where the various interpretations start to diverge. Many pages of explanation have been written about this verse, so we won't settle the issue to everyone's satisfaction in a few lines. But consider two observations.

First, if the sickness is the direct result of sin in the believer's life, the ailing person is promised restoration based on confession and forgiveness of that sin.

Second, it follows that the verse is not a blanket guarantee of healing in every case. Dr. Charles Ryrie says, 'Prayers of faith are answered not simply because they are prayed in faith but only if they are prayed in the will of God (1 John 5:14).' We don't know if healing is always God's will, but there is certainly nothing wrong in praying for it. Prayer is our greatest source of power from God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Prayer and praise are an unbeatable combination when we want to express our hearts to God.

We often encourage our Today in the Word readers to purchase a hymnal and keep it close at hand during personal devotions. You may also want to find a book that includes the inspiring and insightful prayers of God's people from different eras and situations in life. There are several such compilations available, and your local bookstore should be able to help you get a copy.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:19-20
Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Like a great piece of literature, James' epistle to the early church closes in a way that ties the letter's themes together and leaves the reader with a sense of completion.

James was intensely interested in helping Christians stay on track spiritually. He didn't want believers to adopt a double-minded way of thinking that could lead them into sin. He clearly warned against the danger of allowing evils like prejudice, greed, and worldliness to infiltrate the church.

In short, James offered a series of tests by which his readers could prove the authenticity of their faith. And having written all that he did about the nature of true faith, James closed his letter with a plea that Christians practice a ministry of restoration for fellow saints who wandered from the path.

By now we aren't surprised when James calls a believer a 'sinner.' Christians are capable of falling into sin, and the consequences can be deadly if something isn't done. The church in Corinth is Exhibit A of this fact. Some of their number had suffered physical death because of gross sin (1 Cor. 11:30).

Saving a fellow Christian from discipline this severe is something any member of Christ's body ought to be ready to do. Notice there are no commands here. The structure of James 5:19 suggests that wandering from the truth is a distinct possibility for a Christian. By saying 'someone' needs to bring the person back, James is leaving the door open for any Christian to act. This is not something the elders alone are qualified to perform.

The mention of death as God's final discipline for a sinning saint suggests the seriousness of this scenario. The fact that the erring believer, once rescued, will stop the sin that caused the problem is another benefit James calls 'cover[ing] over' sin.

This does not mean trying to deny or cover up sin. Instead, the covering James is talking about involves dealing with the sin head-on and moving toward forgiveness and restoration. A rescued, forgiven brother or sister then needs to be restored to the fellowship. James was in the business of developing mature saints, and putting sinners back on the path to righteous living.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's hard to spend a month in the book of James without coming away a changed person. We hope these studies have had that kind of impact on you.

Is there a section of James you identify with in a special way, or one that speaks to a specific need in your life? Maybe one of the apostle's potent illustrations helped you see the truth in a new light. Why not close out the month by reading through James once again, asking God to impress His Word on your heart? Make a note of the verse or verses that have touched you in a special way.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
A generation ago, millions of people who had never read Ecclesiastes 3 knew that 'To every thing there is a season' (KJV). That's because they were familiar with a song called 'Turn, Turn, Turn,' performed in 1965 by a group called The Birds. The song, based almost completely on today's text, ended with a plea for peace in the middle of a violent and turbulent decade, but The Birds kept the basic concept intact.

It's not surprising that these verses would become material for a song. This is great poetry, after all, a powerful recognition of the fact that all of life's events are ordained by God. Solomon illustrated his point by using a literary device known as merism, in which opposite extremes are used to indicate everything in between. Examples such as birth and death, love and hate, war and peace take in the totality of human experience.

Solomon says everything in life has its time and season and that includes our lives of faith as we seek to live for Christ day by day. This month, we are going to explore the seasons of faith, those times in life when our walk with the Lord mirrors the characteristics of the various seasons of the year.

For example, sometimes our faith is as fresh and promising as the first flowers of spring. At other times, we feel parched as in the heat and dryness of summer.

We are also going to see what God's Word has to say to us in different 'seasons' of life, whether it's youth, middle years, or old age. We are also going to discover that the Scriptures are relevant in every case to all ages.

We hope you'll find this to be an interesting, challenging study. There is certainly something in these pages for everyone. But the real payoff is in the theme that runs through all of our studies this month: the constancy, the faithful and unchanging character, of our great God no matter what season or stage of life we may be in.

We are very changeable up and down, in and out, hot and cold. But God 'remain the same' (Ps. 102:27). His power, love, and purity give us hope in any and every season.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We would all love for our faith to be strong, fresh, and growing every day of our lives.

But since we're imperfect people, life doesn't work that way. We want to deal with our weakness in these studies, without looking for excuses for sin or failure. What season is your faith in as we begin the month? Take a few minutes for self-evaluation, and then ask God to help you find new strength and freshness for your Christian life through your study of His Word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:33-44
[God] has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. - Acts 14:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Since the end of summer is just a few weeks away, it seems like a good idea to begin with the season of autumn, a time of harvest that almost every culture celebrates in some way.

For many suburbanites, fall celebrations can be largely symbolic, since these people are often far removed from farm life. But for an agricultural society like ancient Israel, the fall harvest was life itself. It was so important, in fact, that God commanded His people to observe the fall harvest with a festival known as the Feast of Tabernacles.

This week-long celebration began and ended with a 'sacred assembly' (vv. 35-36). The people's focus was clearly on the Lord, who had provided for their needs in the harvest.

This festive occasion is also known as the Feast of Booths. The Israelites left their regular homes and lived in homemade 'thatched huts' for the week, to remind themselves that God had brought their ancestors out of Egypt and preserved them through their wilderness wanderings.

Tabernacles was also one of the three feasts requiring every Jewish man to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. As the Jewish pilgrims made their way up to Jerusalem, they sang the songs of ascent (Ps. 120 134).

For the Israelites, fall was clearly a season of fullness, a time when the anticipation of a good harvest was realized. For us today, fall can represent that season of faith when we are seeing a real spiritual harvest in our service for Christ and in our daily relationship with Him.

These are seasons of prosperity. Like a hard-working farmer whose barns are full of food for the winter, all of us have experienced those seasons of spiritual harvest and fullness.

The good news is that a season like this isn't governed by the calendar. God is always ready to share His abundance with those who seek Him with all their hearts. In the Bible, the harvest is used as a metaphor for the times of spiritual fruitfulness they enjoyed.

Most people have a favorite season of the year. Spiritually speaking, fall would be a great choice and the harvest can begin in your heart today.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It was during Tabernacles that Jesus stood and cried out, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink' (John 7:37).

Jesus promised 'streams of living water' for anyone who would come to Him, which, as John says, was a reference to the Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39). For a Christian, the Spirit is the key to the enjoyment of God's fullness. You already have the Spirit within you if you know Christ. But ask yourself today, how much does He have of you?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 36:5-10
How priceless is your unfailing love! - Psalm 36:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Christian writer Bill Peel says, 'God's unchanging intention is that we take pleasure from the gifts He has given us without guilt.' Then Peel quotes the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:19: 'When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work this is a gift of God.'

Since it's normally a time of harvest and abundance, fall is a good illustration of those wonderful seasons in life when our spiritual 'barns' are full.

David wrote about a season like this, praising God for His unchanging love. The object of David's praise is unmistakable. Every blessing he could name was the result of God's 'unfailing love,' a special term that can also be translated 'loyal love.' What a great description of God's heart attitude toward us.

David used harvest imagery at the beginning of verse 8 in Psalm 36, picturing a well-fed family enjoying the abundance the father has obviously provided by his labor. But David wasn't necessarily talking about physical provisions, because the context of Psalm 36 is God's protection and blessing in the face of evil people and their schemes (see vv. 1-4, 11-12).

The point is that God is always ready to sit His children down to a spiritual feast. Whether we take advantage of the Father's goodness or disregard it, has to do with our faithfulness or lack thereof, not His desire to bless us.

Notice that David includes every part of creation when he talks about the reach of God's loyal love (vv. 5-6). Since all of us depend on God for life itself (v. 6b), and since no one can put a price tag on the value of life, David could confidently call God's love priceless.

There's no doubting the value of times of spiritual abundance. The fellowship with God is sweet, we are walking in His light (v. 9), and we have a strong sense that our lives are pleasing to Him. What does it take to prolong the good times? Jesus answered that for us: 'Remain in me, and I will remain in you' (John 15:4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We suggest you keep a pencil or pen and a pad of paper nearby as you study the Word, so you can write down thoughts and insights.

Today is one of those days when you may want to do some writing. Think of the last time you experienced a season of real spiritual abundance (we hope it's as current as today!). Jot down a few thoughts about that time: how God made Himself real to you, the steps of obedience or faithfulness you followed, and the ways you touched others. If it's been a while since your last 'harvest season,' why not come to God's table again today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 4:6-13, 16-18
O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. - Psalm 22:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last winter, five teenaged boys from two separate skiing parties spent a night lost in a blinding snowstorm at an Idaho ski resort. Strong winds and eighteen inches of fresh snow raked the mountain, but all five boys survived the ordeal and returned safely. Three boys found their own way back, and snowmobilers found the other two. One boy said, 'I sat there and I prayed all night long.'

For most of us, being trapped overnight in a winter snowstorm would be a nightmare. Winter has its own beauty, but the danger of the season can make us feel isolated especially when a storm shuts an area down.

The cold and isolation of winter make a useful analogy for those seasons when we feel cut off from others, and perhaps from God, and like the psalmist we cry out for God to come and help us. Paul was going through a winter-like experience during the final imprisonment before his execution.

The apostle evidently was feeling the cold dampness of his dungeon cell. That's probably why he asked for his cloak. Winter was coming on and God's aging warrior, deserted by one former co-worker and separated from other beloved companions, was eager for emotional and spiritual support.

Sometimes our faith may enter into a winter season because we allow our hearts to grow cold toward the Lord. That wasn't Paul's problem. He was in prison because of his faithfulness to Christ. Paul was faithful, but he was still lonely and hurting.

But notice where Paul's hope was anchored. It was the Lord to whom he looked not only for his ultimate reward, but for strength to stand firm in his winter of trial. Another time Paul said God allowed him to endure a severe trial so that 'we might not rely on ourselves but on God' (2 Cor. 1:9).

Whether a winter-like season of faith is the result of our coldness, or hard circumstances permitted by God, the answer is the same. We must reach out to the One who is the same 'yesterday and today and forever' (Heb. 13:. God's forgiveness and comfort can break through any winter storm in our souls.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Winter may seem like a long way off today. It's still officially summer, in fact.

But just as a storm can blow through and bring a sudden chill in the weather, sin that is not dealt with can bring a quick chill to our spiritual lives. Why not get things in good shape before the storm hits by spending time in heart-searching and confession in God's presence today? Reading David's prayer of confession in Psalm 51 may help you prepare your heart for what the Lord wants to show you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7:18-28
I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! - Mark 9:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Working on an Israeli military installation in the Gaza Strip, archaeologists have discovered the remains of a sixth-century Byzantine church dedicated to John the Baptist complete with extensive marble floor tiles and multi-colored mosaics. The dedication to John the Baptist is contained in an eleven-line inscription on a mosaic at the church's entrance. The inscription also indicates that the church was begun 544 A.D. and completed in 550.

John the Baptist was a worthy subject for the dedication of a church. Jesus Himself said no one was greater than John (v. 28). But even this mighty prophet, who was both the relative and forerunner of Jesus, experienced a 'winter season' of uncertainty.

There were reasons for John's brief wavering in his conviction that Jesus was the Messiah just as there are usually reasons for our times of doubt. From this story we can learn how to dispel our doubts.

John was isolated physically, having been imprisoned by Herod Antipas for denouncing the king's adultery (the story is in Mark 6:14-29). So this powerful preacher sent two of his disciples to Jesus with a straightforward question: 'Are you the one who was to come [i.e., Messiah], or should we expect someone else?' (vv. 19-20). It's interesting that the question didn't offend Jesus. He knew, of course, that John was asking from an honest, hurting heart. There should have been more people in Jesus' day asking the same question, and believing in Him through His words and the great miracles He did.

Jesus sent the answer back to John, pointing to His message and miracles as fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning Messiah. Then He pronounced a blessing on those who remain faithful to Him.

We often hear it said that God is big enough to handle our doubts. That's true, but He doesn't handle them until we bring our doubts to Him and humbly seek His answer. In other words, doubt becomes sin when it causes us to keep God at arm's length refusing to believe His Word. John went to the right source, with the right attitude, and Jesus laid John's doubts to rest.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Bible teacher Adrian Rogers says we're wiser to 'doubt our doubts' than to doubt the Lord.

Christian leaders say the number one area of doubt among believers continues to be their lack of assurance of salvation. If you struggle with this, read John 10:27-30 and thank the Lord for holding us firmly in His hands. And if you aren't struggling with doubt right now, let John 10 be a source of praise and thanksgiving today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 102:1-12
[The Lord] will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. - Psalm 102:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Patrick, the fifth-century missionary who is credited with bringing the gospel to Ireland, once came under severe attack from critics of his ministry. Patrick wrote in his Confession that he drew strength from God during the attacks. 'Indeed He bore me up, though I was trampled underfoot in such a way. For although I was put down and shamed, not too much harm came to me.'

If you've ever felt trampled on by life, maybe you can identify with Patrick's feelings. The writer of today's psalm was even more eloquent. He cried out for God to answer him in his deep distress, pleading with the Lord not to turn His face or ear away from the psalmist's prayer.

We're not told what led to this wintry period of turmoil in the psalmist's life. But the symptoms sound familiar. He felt the effects in his body (v. 3). He couldn't eat or sleep (vv. 4, 7). And he felt completely isolated, like a bird sitting among ruins (v. 6).

But in this case there was more. For whatever reason, the writer says God had allowed his deep distress to come on him. This introduces an element of the hard times that we need to face. There is no definite indication in the psalm that this believer's sin was the reason God had 'taken [him] up and thrown [him] aside' (v. 10).

But this figure of speech is too graphic simply to throw aside the idea that God permits hard circumstances to crash against His people. The psalmist was being harassed by his enemies, but clearly God was sovereign over his problems.

As we read on, though, we begin to discover why the Psalms have been called 'the medicine chest of the soul.' Today's reading ends with the confident statement of verse 12, but the following verses address the day when God will establish His kingdom and all the people of the earth will worship Him (v. 22). In other words, the psalm brings us back to the reassuring theme that no matter what season of life or faith we may be in, God is constant in His righteous person and purpose. Later on this month, we will consider the reaffirming truths that close this psalm.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Chances are you're home today enjoying the Labor Day holiday.

This might be a good opportunity to spend some extra time praying for a request or need that is especially important to you right now. Today's verse reminds us that God's ear is always open to the heartfelt prayers of His children. Why not take a walk sometime today and pray as you go? You can begin by praying from God's Word, reminding yourself of the promise in verse 17 and thanking Him for the open access you have to heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 55:1-8, 16-17, 22
Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. - Psalm 55:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his later years Ira Sankey, well-known gospel musician and ministry partner of D.L. Moody, became blind and was basically confined to his apartment. British Bible teacher F.B. Meyer visited Sankey one day and found him feeling low in spirit. Meyer asked Sankey if he still played the piano, and Sankey said he had not played in a long time. Meyer asked Sankey to play, and as the dejected musician began to play a hymn about heaven, his spirits lifted and he felt peace and joy. Meyer left, and a few days later Sankey went to be with the Lord.

Ira Sankey needed a refuge that day as surely as David needed a place where he could run and 'be at rest.' He was being oppressed by his enemies, and was caught in a web of fear and anguish. Everywhere he looked he saw trouble, so he looked up and directed a desperate prayer to the Lord.

We've been talking about the winter season of faith, those times when doubt, disappointment, or suffering cause our spirit to feel cold and isolated even from God. The power of the Psalms is in their ability to speak to us in every season of life and faith, and today's reading is a classic example.

No matter what the situation might be, all of us can identify with David's expressed desire to flee from his oppressors and find rest in a quiet refuge. David must have had a special kind of refuge in mind, because the word he used for shelter (v. is not used anywhere else in the Old Testament. The word means a place of escape.

But the psalmist's real refuge was in the Lord. He began with prayer, and affirmed God's ability to save him from any danger. Then came a terrific word of advice for us today: 'Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you' (v. 22).

That's our hope when a cold winter chill closes over our hearts. If you're not experiencing a winter period in your faith right now, praise God. But don't forget that He is the same regardless of what season you may be in. When the winter days come, you can turn to God as your refuge.

What a great guarantee David offers us when we make God our rest and refuge: 'He will never let the righteous fall' (vv. 22b). We may stumble at times, but God will lift us up.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Before we leave the theme of winter, God's word has another message of hope and encouragement for us today.

Echoing Psalm 55:22, Peter wrote, 'Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you' (1 Pet. 5:7). Why not accept God's offer? Jot down your biggest care on a card, then write 1 Peter 5:7 below it. Now lift up your worry to God in prayer, thank Him for His peace, and enclose the card or paper in your Bible as a way of casting it upon the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:4-14
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. - Psalm 31:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Just as spring follows winter on the calendar, so our winter seasons of faith are often followed by a spring-like breakthrough. When this happens, God's love and presence warm us and generate a new sense of life and hope.

There are annual changes in the environment as we move from season to season, similar to what happens in our own spiritual growth. And if we are to grow, we need to be focused on God. The feasts of Israel give us a picture of what it might look like when we give our attention to God.

Passover was so important because it commemorated Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The observance finds its fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb who died to redeem God's people from their sins (1 Cor 5:7).

This feast is a wonderful picture of the new life we associate with the spring season. Our ultimate hope for life is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in which God brought life out of death. We can thank the Lord for those times when the Holy Spirit awakens our spirits in a special way and our faith begins to take on fresh color and bloom again.

The ceremony described in verse 11 occurred on the second day of the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread. Because of this, some Bible teachers don't think firstfruits was a separate festival but simply part of the larger festival.

But this day of celebration marking the spring harvest was important in either case. The people were to bring the first of their harvest to the priest for a wave offering before God. This dedicated the entire harvest to the Lord and served as a promise of the full harvest to come.

Notice that the emphasis in these feasts is on God and His goodness. This fits our theme of God's unchanging character despite our shifting moods and seasons. By offering God the first part of their harvest, the Israelites were acknowledging their dependence on Him for their needs. Who better to depend on!

Interestingly, Paul also applied the theme of firstfruits to Christ's resurrection and to ours (1 Cor. 15:20). His victory over death is our promise that we too will conquer death.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For Christians, that sense of hope and new life in the spring season of faith is not just wishful thinking. Instead, our hope in Christ is a solid assurance for the future.

If the imagery of springtime describes your spiritual life, that's wonderful. We urge you to take the advice of today's verse and reaffirm your hope in the Lord. And if you're in need of a springtime breakthrough today, begin praising God from your heart, whether the feelings are there or not. His delight is the praise of His people, and it will become your joy too.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 1:1-6
The LORD watches over the way of the righteous. - Psalm 1:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Legendary baseball manager John McGraw led the New York Giants from 1902 to1932, running his team with unquestioned authority. Once, McGraw's wife wanted to talk to Fred Merkle, one of the Giants players. She gestured to Merkle several times, but wasn't able to catch his attention. After the game, Mrs. McGraw said to Merkle in mild exasperation, 'Freddie, didn't you see me waving to you during the game?'

Merkle was startled. 'Good grief, Mrs. Mac. Are you giving signals now too?!'

The story is funny, but Merkle had the right idea. He knew the only way to flourish in a Giants uniform was to pay attention to his leader. The same is true for us. If we want to flourish spiritually, we need to pay attention to the directions our Leader has given.

For us that means paying close attention to the Word of God, making it our daily delight and the subject of our study and meditation. Jesus called it abiding in Him and allowing His Word to abide in us. His promise is that when we do this, we will be spiritually fruitful (John 15:7-8).

The psalmist has basically the same message, comparing a person of the Word with a fruitful tree planted in a good location. It's a great picture of the freshness and new life we associate with springtime.

The good news is that this does not have to be just a seasonal, or temporary, way of life for God's people. The writer says the person whose heart is set on God flourishes in every season, and 'whatever he does prospers' (v. 3).

What about the world and its pull on us? Sin can choke out our spiritual growth anytime, but the psalmist is careful to warn us against falling under the influence of people who have no regard for God. It's a progressively downward spiral, which ends with us sitting, or having fellowship, among the ungodly. Bad company can throw a cold winter blanket over our spiritual lives.

But there's no comparison between the blessing God offers and the dead-end pursuits of the world. If you want to enjoy a springlike walk with Christ, keep your eyes on Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 1:1 reminds us that we need to maintain balance in our relationships with unbelievers.

The Bible does not forbid association with unbelievers. We need to know lost people so we can love them and win them to Christ. The problem comes when those who don't know Christ are able to lead us away from Him. Today review your friendships with unbelievers. In which direction is the influence going? It's worth thinking about.