Month: April 2024

Psalm 25 – O Lord, I give my life to you.
² I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
³ No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

⁴ Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
⁵ Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
⁶ Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
⁷ Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.

⁸ The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
⁹ He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
¹⁰ The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

Historically speaking, scholars debate whether or not this psalm was written by David, or at a later date, perhaps even during the Babylonian captivity.  Regardless of who wrote it, and when, it is the Word of God and has much to teach those who would listen.

The psalm begins with the calling of each and every Christian – to give our lives to God.  What exactly does it mean to give our lives to God?  Each of us must answer this question for ourselves.  For me, it means that I trust God not only for eternal life, but for direction in my life here and now.  I believe the psalmist, who did not know of eternity as we know, was speaking of the here and now in this psalm.

The psalmist states in verse three: “No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced.”  The psalmist then asks God to point out the right road to follow.  For the Christian, disgrace does not come from failure as the world defines failure, but disgrace comes from following the wrong paths.  Giving our lives to God, and trusting God, means following the path God desires for us to follow.  We walk that path when we live by God’s Word (verse 5).

The psalmist then goes on to state in verse three: “but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.” I believe that we Christians deceive ourselves, and try to deceive others,  when we claim Jesus as our Lord but then live as if Jesus is only something we save for life after death – as if Jesus were nothing more than some ‘get out of hell free card.’  Because of Jesus, we do have access to eternal life, but we are called to trust God enough to live a life right now that is different.  I shared in a sermon a few weeks back that if our lives are not markedly different now than when we came to know Jesus, then we have not really met Jesus yet! 

Today, let us truly give our lives to God.  Let us truly trust – trusting God enough to walk only on the paths that God’s truth leads us along.

Posted by Ramón Torres

Psalm 1 – Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
² But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

⁴ But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
⁵ They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
⁶ For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. (NLT)

Today we consider the very first Psalm, which many scholars believe to be a preface or introduction to the entire Book of Psalms.  I have used the New Living Translation, but many may be familiar with other translations.  Verse one is often translated as: “Blessed is the man.” I like the NLT for this psalm.  The word translated as blessed is plural in the Hebrew.  The word is used to describe that which is produced in our lives by living a godly life.  A godly life is a blessing, no doubt, but I believe those who are blessed by living a godly life know joys that others often overlook.

From the very first chapters of the Bible, and throughout, we know that God created us to have a relationship with God.  A relationship with God creates many blessings which produces great joy.  God created us to be happy and joy filled!  Indeed, the New Testament is filled with verses that speak of this joyful relationship.  Consider just a couple of those passages: For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17); Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy (1 Peter 1:8); our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. (1 John 1:3-4).

Perhaps, one of the best known verses that speaks of this joy comes from Paul’s letter to the Galatians: the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).  Verses two and three of Psalm 1 tell us that we will produce this fruit in our lives if God is our delight.

Today, let us delight in the joy filled relationship that God desires with us.  Let us meditate on God’s Word, and be joyful!

Posted by Ramón Torres

James 3:1 – Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

³ We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. ⁴ And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. ⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. ⁶ And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

⁷ People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. ¹⁰ And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! ¹¹ Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? ¹² Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. (NLT)

The Book of James is a wonderful biblical book for exploring practical ways to live out the faith we have in a Triune God.  While James begins this section speaking about teachers in the church, the Word of God speaks to all Christians.  In this passage, James speaks about the words we use.  Verse ten is powerful: “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”

It saddens me when I hear the way some Christians speak to and of one another.  I have always believed that the words we use speak volumes about our relationship with God.  If we are nurturing our relationship with God, it will change our words!  My father used to tell me: “If you can’t improve on the silence, don’t break it.”  I believe this is good advice.  It is often those closest to us that receive the brunt of our cutting words, especially when spoken out of anger.  Ephesians 4:31 tells us to get rid of rage, anger, and all harsh words.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:3 – “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”  When we are quick to see faults in others, but have not gotten rid of harsh words spoken in anger, we have a log in our eye!

I mentioned earlier about faith in our Triune God.  Remember, God is available to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In John 14:17, Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.  In John 14:26, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us and remind us of all we need to know.  Let us seek the power of the Holy Spirit, asking the Spirit to help us choose our words wisely.

Today, let us allow others to see Jesus by the way we speak.  Let us not speak words that tear down, instead let our words truly encourage and strengthen one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). 

Posted by Ramón Torres

John 13:1 – Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. ² It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. ⁴ So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, ⁵ and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.  ⁶ When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  ⁷ Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”  ⁸ “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”    Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”  ⁹ Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”  ¹⁰ Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? ¹³ You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. ¹⁴ And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. ¹⁵ I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. (NLT)

Today we encounter a powerful passage of Scripture.  Much has been said and written about this passage, so let us consider just a couple of things.  First, it is important to note that foot washing was a task reserved for the lowest ranking servant in a household.  Of course, many households did not have servants, but everyone present would have known how humbling this was for anyone to perform, much less their Messiah!

When I consider that Jesus was God in the flesh, I realize that every moment of his earthly life was humble servanthood.  Whatever heaven is like, to come to earth in any fashion, much less as a poor peasant, is a powerfully humbling thing!

Secondly, let us consider what Jesus says in verses fourteen and fifteen.  Jesus tells us that we have been given an example to follow, and that we ought to wash each other’s feet.  Some Christian groups make foot washing an ordinance of their church.  I see nothing wrong with the ordinance of foot washing and have experienced the power of such services.  However, I read more into Jesus’ words than just washing of another’s feet.  By washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus shows us that there is nothing too low for a servant.  As Christians, we are all called to be servants – servants to one another, and servants to the world.  

How powerful our witness for Jesus would be if we lived as humbly as Jesus calls for us to live!  How different would the world be if Christians this day truly lived a life defined by humble servanthood? 

Posted by Ramón Torres