The Sin Journey

Praise from us should not be silent or selfish. It is not for...

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:54:00 -0400

Praise from us should not be silent or selfish. It is not for ourselves, to be kept for our own enjoyment, or to be for our own benefit. Praising God is to be heard and acknowledge all around. It is not meant to be silent, but joyful and resounding!

The manner of worship God demands of us is simple. Sing a new...

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 02:53:03 -0400

The manner of worship God demands of us is simple. Sing a new song. Sing the old songs that praise God. Dance with joy. Use His Words to defend Him. Those are all forms of praise to the Maker of the universe. He is calling everyone! King, nobles, commoners, peasants, all are alike when coming before God’s throne. Only He is superior and deserving of praise.

From the highest places of authority and glory to the lowest and...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:07:29 -0400

From the highest places of authority and glory to the lowest and most difficult places to give glory, we are to praise God for what He is, not necessarily what He has done for us. Because God is God and we are not, He deserves our praise and worship, especially because He created us.

This psalm reinforces how God in His divine nature is beyond our...

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 02:58:10 -0400

This psalm reinforces how God in His divine nature is beyond our comprehension. God does not delight in the works of His hands. What He really wants is our repines to Him. Strength and talent does not impress God; He gave them to us. God only wants us to praise Him and use those gifts to worship Him. That is the correct response God seeks from us, not prideful but with humility.

It is important to note how transitory humans are in this world....

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 04:37:15 -0400

It is important to note how transitory humans are in this world. Verse 4 puts it in blunt terms: the things of this earth, thoughts, riches, status, are worthless when we die. There will be a time where not our ideas can save us, but God, the everlasting King who made us and gave us those talents, can.

God is completely righteous in all His ways. But as perfect as...

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:24:28 -0400

God is completely righteous in all His ways. But as perfect as He is, in this relationship, it’s not one way where God does all the loving and we do the receiving. God can’t get to the core of our heart unless sin is gone. So now, this relationship deals first with our personal sin and how that affects the rest of God’s love for us.

Though we deserve not a mere glance of attention, though we are...

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:50:23 -0400

Though we deserve not a mere glance of attention, though we are simply a passing shadow in this world not worth the acknowledgement, God is gracious and loving to care for us. He knows us and makes effort to love us. We deserve none of it, but God grants it graciously for our sake.

God is God and we are not. That is the only necessary reason for...

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 03:05:39 -0400

God is God and we are not. That is the only necessary reason for us to praise and worship Him. As humans, we are under His dominion, and there needs no other persuasion for us to worship the Master of the universe. And that worship can come in different forms. Remember, whether we eat or drink, we should do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). So everything we do, can be a form of worship to God.

If we were to imagine a time of imprisonment so long we could...

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 01:29:10 -0400

If we were to imagine a time of imprisonment so long we could not even remember the all the crimes we commit to deserve prison, how happy would we be when we first step out of those doors and into freedom? I know I would be simply ecstatic and jumping for joy for my freedom. But the psalmist makes a stark point when he asks that his freedom be used for God’s glory. I know I would marvel in myself and what I want to do and where I want to be. But the psalmist simply asks God to make him thankful to His name.

It’s interesting to take into account that the psalmist is...

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 02:19:04 -0400

It’s interesting to take into account that the psalmist is pleading God for protection from people who aren’t particularly out to get him, but people who sin. It’s that temptation aspect he’s extremely frightened about, the enticing. This perspective challenges how we see sin. I know for a moment in my life, I did see it as a horrendous act against God that is only deserving of eternal death. But now, it’s definitely “died down” as my life keeps moving on. But that definition of sin doesn’t lose it’s impact with God. Sin is always sin, and it’s the most repulsive thing you can do before God.

The wicked with always plot evil against us; they prepare in...

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:04:22 -0400

The wicked with always plot evil against us; they prepare in such a way that they are ready to smite us. They are ready with traps and poison, physical and verbal hits to our hearts. But thankfully, we have God who has shown us through and through that He is faithful to protect us. We have God on our side whereas the wicked don’t even have evil on their side.

This oh-so famous psalm exemplifies how little and insignificant...

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:40:09 -0400

This oh-so famous psalm exemplifies how little and insignificant we are compared to God. He formed us from things we don’t even know or understand. He numbered our days and wove us carefully together. In addition to just making us and letting us go, He studies us and knows us, and we can’t even begin to know His knowledge, because it’s impossible for humans to be God.

This psalm is a good reminder of how gracious God is to show us...

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:33:48 -0400

This psalm is a good reminder of how gracious God is to show us love and mercy. the stark difference, however, comes with our attitude. God equally shows grace to us, but only to the humble can He communicate and call His children. If we are proud, that selfishness builds a barrier around our heart that God can’t get through.

Psalm 137 I often take for granted the skills and gifts I...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 02:13:06 -0400

Psalm 137

I often take for granted the skills and gifts I possess. Sometimes, I think it’s right to use them as best I can, whether or not they bring praise to God. The psalmist’s words really puts into perspective how barren we really are in this world. All our talent and treasures are all God’s; we have nothing apart from Him. In response, our hearts should be motivated towards using His gifts for His glory.

In all ways, God is good. Not just in His providence or mercy,...

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 04:22:13 -0400

In all ways, God is good. Not just in His providence or mercy, in all ways, including the “natural” miracles around us. God’s creation itself is a testament of His greatness. We cannot make the beauty He created, and so we know that God is greater than us to have made this world.

The apparent gist of this psalm is that God is so great in the...

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:07:21 -0400

The apparent gist of this psalm is that God is so great in the things He has and will do that His name, His reputation, will last forever. In Israel’s past, God’s deliverance and sovereignty to His people earned Him the respect He deserves. Even now, God shows how great He is through nature and through the many blessings we experience daily. God is still sovereign; He is still great. His name endures forever.

It is interesting to note that in this psalm, the psalmist is...

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:06:08 -0400

It is interesting to note that in this psalm, the psalmist is specifically calling the servants of the Lord, not all people which would include His enemies. And thinking about it, the heart intention, the joy and purity of worshipping and praising God must first come out of a humble servant’s heart.

It is such a blessing to have brotherhood in Christ. First, it...

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:17:19 -0400

It is such a blessing to have brotherhood in Christ. First, it is holy; it isn’t something of this world that binds us all together, but something greater and more divine. Second, it is abundant until the point where we cannot be counted like the dew drops. There are plenty to rely on, but we rely in the same hope.

This psalm is entirely about promises: our promise to God and...

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:16:33 -0400

This psalm is entirely about promises: our promise to God and His promise to us. But in all honesty, we are in full subjection to Him. He chooses whom He wants to bless. It’s His intentional and thought out choice. Therefore, we can do nothing to gain any more or any less blessing than He deems.

A very simple and concise psalm, but a very important...

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:51:40 -0400

A very simple and concise psalm, but a very important characteristic I often overlook. When Jesus used a child’s faith as an example before the masses, I would only think that He talked about a child’s vulnerability and convince-ability. But even more than just those two, He wants us to be innocent and calm. Not rash or anxious, but with true and honest intentions.