Psalm 37:4

Verse of the Day Devotion: Psalm 37:4

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

This is a psalm of David.  The first three verses lead up to this verse.  “Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb. Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”  Psalm 37:1-3.  David begins by saying that we are not to fret because of evil doers.  The Hebrew word translated ‘fret’ denotes not to get angry or heated up.  We are told not to get worried or envious because wrongdoers are prosperous and successful, and we are not.  The will not last because of their wickedness, even though it looks as though they will.

In fact, going into verse three, we are to confide and rest in Him.  Instead of being anxious and upset that you are doing good and not being as successful as those who do wrong, we are to trust in Him, continuing to do good.  We are to continue to go forward in doing what is right, to continue doing the work of benevolence, helping those who are wronged by those who do wrong.  Think about it, there is wickedness all around us.  The world is full of those who treat people bad, prospering at the expense of others.  This is more reason for us to endeavor to do good, if but to counter the evil being done.  We are to live here and do good when needed,

How can we do this and not get discouraged?  We will not find true happiness in a world filled with evil, nor in participating with them.  We should always seek our happiness in God.  We should seek it in His being, who He is, the Almighty God who loves us, who is perfect in all His ways, who are His friends.  This is what He means by delighting ourselves in Him.  If we live as God has called us to, and we trust completely in Him no matter what happens, then we can live a life of ease and contentment.  We can live a life of bliss if we will just give Him all our cares.

And lastly, it says He will give us the desires of our heart.  As we become closer and closer to God; growing more in our love for Him, as we continue to live completely to please Him, our desires will change to conform to what His desires are for us.  We will only desire that which is good and honorable to God.  When our delight is completely in Him, then we will delight in those things He delights to give us.  And this is a great place to be.

Let us work to develop a heart that delights only in God and what He has provided to us and what He desires to give us and let us remove any desire that is not honoring to God.  Let us delight in who He is, trusting completely whatever situation we find ourselves in.  For in this, peace resides, and worries flee.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

Verse of the Day Devotion:  2 Timothy 4:3-4

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Paul is writing here to Timothy at the end of his letter charging him in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ to be diligent in discipling those under his care.  This is very important to him because he was then imprisoned in Rome for a second time and shortly before his death.  Paul had worked extremely hard in teaching the truth to the church and He wanted this to continue after his death.  And Paul did not just suggest this or tell him, he charged him.  “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2.  Note all that Timothy was being called to do.  To preach the word in season and out of season.  In other words. be urgent whether the times are prosperous or not, whenever there is an opportunity and when there is none, strive to make one. The Judge is at the door and to every man eternity is at hand!  Wherever  you meet one in  sin speak to him the word of reconciliation. Do not be content with stated times and accustomed places for all times and places belong to God and are proper for his work.  Wherever it can be done, there it should be done. Satan will omit neither time nor place where he can destroy. Omit nothing where you may be the instrument of salvation to someone.

And why is this important?  Paul states his reason in our focus verses.  “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 4:3-4.  He is to press home the truth of the word of God on every occasion whether it is convenient of not for the urgency of the message overrides any other circumstance whether or not the situation is favorable or not.  Because there is a time coming to the Church when people will not hear the practical truth of the gospel when they prefer something else.  They will interpret the word in a way that agrees with their lusts and will go out and find teachers that agrees with them.  And he encourages Timothy to stand firm to the truth.  “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5. 

Unfortunately, we live in a day where this has become true.  Many still stand firm in believing the truth, however, there are many who look for a church that teaches things that are absolutely sinful and encourages the people to follow these teachings.  There are various places that are called churches that teach homosexuality is ok to the point that many of their leadership practice this lifestyle, even though the scriptures condemn it.  Now, to make this clear, we are to reach out to the homosexual to help them see the truth that the activity is sin, but we must never allow this to be in the church.  One other issue that can be brought up is abortion, which many church goers declare to be acceptable.  However, murder is never acceptable, no matter who it is.

We as leaders in the church must preach what the scriptures say and not what it does not say  We must understand what God says is sin and teach it as such and not accept it simply because our society says so.  And there are preachers out there that will teach what is socially acceptable in order to be accepted themselves.  Whatever God has declared as sin is sin and must be preached accordingly, and what He has declared as righteous must be preached accordingly.  To do anything else is to lead people away from the truth and cause many to be condemned at Jesus’s coming if they do not hear and follow God’s word as stated.  We should desire that all be saved and none condemned.  Therefore, as Paul said to Timothy he says to us.  “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2.  Let us shower the world with God’s truth everywhere we go and do all we can to help everyone understand and follow it.  If that requires reproof, then reprove them.  If correction, then rebuke. If exhortation, then encourage them in the truth.  Our goal is to lead as many as we can to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Let all we do accomplish that goal and not lead them astray simply because they want to hear a different word.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

1 Timothy 2:4

Verse of the Day Devotion: 1 Timothy 2:4

“Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4 

Our focus verse today speaks of what our purpose is.  “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15. Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus called His disciples to share the gospel with all people in all nations.  No one was to be left out.  This is our calling.  When we look in Matthew, we see a more clear outline of His calling to us.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.  Here, Matthew states that Jesus not only called them to preach the gospel, but to make disciples.  He has called us to make disciples who will make disciples who will make disciples, going on ad infinitum. 

This is important because God desires that all men be saved.  There is a teaching in many churches that God has chosen a remnant to be saved, meaning that the rest are chosen for damnation.  This idea, known as Calvinism, is not taught in the scriptures.  In the three leading verses in this chapter we read, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,” 1 Timothy 2:1-3.  And then our focus verse.  “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4.  Paul is calling on all of us to pray for the salvation of all people.  And it is critical that we do pray for all and not just those we deem as worthy.  Nikki Cruz, a cruel gang leader in New York was one many believed should not be saved for all the evil he had done.  However, God sent David Wilkerson to the two most vicious gangs in the city, and because of this Nikki, along with Cookie Rodriguez and other members were saved.  God loved and loved Nikki Cruz regardless of what he had done. 

Peter in His second letter says it this way.  “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.  God does not want anyone to perish.  His nature is one of love and He sincerely desires the eternal happiness and joy of everyone.  And His patience toward sinners shows that He is willing and desirous of them to repent.  However, it is important also to know that He knows everything from eternity past to eternity future.  “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’”.  God knows those who will accept His Son, and those who will reject Him.  But this does not negate the fact that He loves all people from all times and is saddened that many choose not to accept His merciful call to salvation.  The truth is He desires all to be saved but will not go against their will and force the issue.  

If God desires this and has called us to make disciples of all men, then we must do what we can to reach out to everyone we can.  We should endeavor to, as Jesus said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15b.  If it is simply a word or phrase spoken to someone you meet, or a discussion that evolves with another, we never know the impact we can have in their life and heart.  Especially when what they see in us is the reality of this Christian walk and love for them and your desire to introduce them to Christ.  And as today’s verse of the day alludes to, we are to pray on behalf of all men that they may accept the salvation God provides.  God loves everyone, and we should love everyone as well.  “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.