Mark 1:9-11 - Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan

Mark 1:9-11
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

Message: Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Thus far, the first 8 verses has been about John, his message and ministry, leading up to Jesus. Now, here is the first visibility of Jesus in Mark's Gospel. John prepared the way, even baptizing some, but now Jesus comes to be baptized by John. If Mark preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, then why did Jesus need to be baptized when the idea of him being sinless is central to His purpose and history? John called people to be baptized and Jesus was simply being obedient to that which every other person was called to do. Jesus was different, but he also wanted to identify with His people and be the same. Thus, he is not being baptized for repentance for the remission of sins, but with the baptism of consecration to the work that lay before him.

This baptism occurred in AD 28, as Jesus was 30 years of age, coming from Nazareth, a town of about 3,000 population. This is where Jesus had lived for the past 30 years and now he was embarking on his ministry. I believe the phrase coming out of the water means that his baptism was by immersion, but other gospels are less clear. I think the act of baptism is what is important, not the form, so sprinkle and immersion don't really matter to me, but to me the immersion provides a better picture of the transformation that happens in the believer' life. I always heard these words when someone was being baptized, "Buried with Christ, raised to walk in newness of life." I even heard a pastor say that we don't immerse a person and then hold them under and send them to glory - as we could, but we are meant to be raised to walk a life in yielded service to our Savior and Lord. Mark's account does not clearly denote prayer having occurred at the baptism. Following baptism, as he came up out of the water He saw and I believe John seeing from above the heavens opening. With Jesus there was a special view into heaven, beyond what the natural vision could see. So Jesus' baptism was different for sure. 

The Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. To me, the Spirit is coming from heaven, flying down as a dove to fall upon him, thus commissioning and ordaining him for his ministry.

A voice came out of the heavens, thus heard by all. God speaks forth the title gave to Jesus, You are my beloved Son. It expresses the nearness of God to Jesus. His obedience is recognized by in You I am well-pleased which implies not just a momentary pleasing, but constantly being well pleased of Him.

The baptism of Jesus shows three persons in divine nature:

1. The person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, baptized in Jordan
2. The Holy Spirit descending in a form upon the Savior.
3. The Father, addressing the Son, and declaring that he was well pleased with him. 

Promise: As Jesus begins his life of ministry, so my life in Christ began with being baptized in the 1983, after trusting in Christ in the summer of 1982. My only regret of this was not alerting my mom of the baptism (one of many regrets I have that often include my mom, unfortunately).

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for commissioning Jesus and reminding me of the important of obedience and following you. Thank you for the unity of Spirit, Jesus, and the Father. Continue to bring meaning to the message of Jesus and his life.

Mark 1:7-8 - The Forerunner's Message

Mark 1:7-8
7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Message: The Forerunner's Message

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Mark's Gospel begins with the address that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist will prepare the way for the Lord. John was dressed as a prophet and started with the subject of water baptism, confessing sin, and forgiveness. His purpose in speaking was not to elevate himself, but instead to elevate the One who is coming. 

The One Coming
He begins to describe the One who is coming after him. He says he is mightier - in nature, in his office, in mission, in works, in deeds and in words. Mark speaks of the magnitude of this man by stating how unworthy he is to even untie his sandals. To stoop down and loosen the sandals was commonly the act of the servant who afterwards carried them. In essence, John is saying that he is not even worthy to be this man's servant. Mark I believe wants us to understand the greatness of this One coming. He has been baptizing people, but this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Again, he is so much more. 

The Holy Spirit
I picked up a book recently by Francis Chan called Forgotten God. It is about the Holy Spirit and his concern that the church today and Christians today, at least in the circles he is involved in, don't have a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit. And as I look at this verse from Mark, I wonder the same thing as he points out the baptism or the picture of renewal is brought forth by the Holy Spirit. 

These verses speak of the significance of the pouring out of the Spirit: 

• Isaiah 44:3 - I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; 

• Joel 2:28 - It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; 

• Acts 1:5 - for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now; 

• Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit;  

• Acts 2:17 - ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;  

• Acts 10:45  - All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also;  

• I Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit

1. The Spirit of God is promised by the Savior to convict the world of sin: John 16:8 - And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. 
2. The Spirit of God will enlighten or teach: John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 16:13 - But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
3. He will comfort in the absence of the Savior: John 14:18: I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 16:7 - But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
4. He will change hearts: Titus 3:5 - He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Promise: That John in the wilderness foresaw the Spirit coming again also points to Jesus as the leader of a new exodus, one that will accomplish an even greater work of salvation on behalf of His chosen servants. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the way in which you orchestrated the coming of Your Son and the sending forth of Your Spirit. Help me Lord to further embrace and understand the work of the Spirit in my life. Thank you that the Spirit works continually, convicting the world of sin, enlightening and teaching, comforting, and changing hearts, my heart. Thank you for being active and that you aren't waiting on me to be receptive. But, help me to acknowledge and praise You in the way you are meant to be praised. Keep me humble and deeply in Love with you each day. 

Study Question: Do you think your understanding of the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit has changed over the years since you trusted in Christ as Savior? That he comes to convict the world of sin, enlighten or teach, comfort us, and change hearts. Have you thought about the fact that right now, today, the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and teaching you in your life?

Mark 1:4-6 - The Wilderness Preacher

Mark 1:4-6
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

Message: The Wilderness Preacher

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Overview
As I look at these verses, which speak of a time before Christ has shed his blood, I am reminded that the Gospel message is central to the entire Bible. This was really a revolutionary idea that John was preaching. To repent is to turn from one's sins. It is to acknowledge sin in your life and then to turn from it. Up to this point baptism or the cleaning of oneself was at times done for Gentiles as they converted to Judaism. Cleanliness and being unclean are very common principles in Judaism and so the washing signified that the person was now clean. But, Jewish belief overall focuses on the advantage of simply being a Jew, not necessarily a changed heart which anyone can exhibit.

My take
I wonder if this is a preamble to Christ's coming and the baptism of the Holy Spirit that will come. Up to this point sins were dealt with through the blood of the lamb on the altar of the Temple. In some ways, I think this is a difficult passage to read, understand, in light of the message that is yet to come. In the next verses, Mark will speak of Jesus and his coming. So, is John preparing a way for Jesus and helping people to understand the message that is to come? Does this mean these acts are practice or are they salvation?

Again, the message here is repentance or confession of sins, baptism, forgiveness of sins. The key here seems to be a changed mind. In these verses, Christ, Jesus, is not mentioned, yet. Does that matter? Is that important? I am not sure.

So, I take a moment to look at what John MacArthur is saying about these verses. He mentions that John is proclaiming himself as a prophet by his dress recorded in verse 6. he leather belt around his waist and the robe of camel's hair signified clearly that he declared himself to be a prophet.

Here John is preparing for the arrival of a king. Anytime we prepare for an arrival, we get things in the best shape that they have been in thus far. We clean the house, clean the surroundings, in anticipation of someone. Here, people are being cleaned. John's message is to Roman Christians. It is to Jews and it is to Gentile. As mentioned, some Gentiles may have been baptized in the past, to show they were being cleaned of their old life and could now enter into a new life of Judaism. But, John brings this message to everyone - Jews and Gentiles. So, he remarks that even the Jew should be baptized, which I'm sure was a surprising message. Thus, the Jews are being called no better than the Gentiles. All need this same act of baptism.

This is not baptism in Jesus' name. It is getting oneself ready for baptism in Jesus' name. Baptism is not salvation. It is a picture of salvation. Thus, I think this is a preparation message, but not the final message. I don't think full salvation is occurring, but rather preparing people for the inner change that is going to come. The gospel message as spoken of in verse 1 is confession, believing and accepting the substitution of Christ. John is preparing the people for this message by first putting for the idea that all people, regardless of race or religion or tradition need to confess their sins and seek a change for forgiveness.

Promise: We cannot rely on membership, family affiliation, lineage, our history of Christian service, our birth into a religious family in order to be saved. Salvation comes through individual confession and cleansing by God.

Prayer: Lord, continue to give me wisdom, divine wisdom as I read these words and study them. Help me to have your understanding of these texts. Continue to teach me. I am not saying I have arrived. I want to be taught by the Spirit of God. Keep teaching me.

Study Question: Often in life, traditions can affect how we live and our surroundings affect us as well. Sometimes naturally we are the same religion as our parents. Yet, Jesus came to save sinners and did not give the idea that you can be saved only by family affiliation. For each person, there needs to be an individual and internal change in that person that occurs or each person saying they believe in Jesus. In your life, when did you realize you were a sinner and you needed God’s forgiveness for your sins?

Mark 1:2-3 - The Fulfillment of the Prophet

Mark 1:2-3

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way;
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.’”

Message: The Fulfillment of the Prophet

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Mark begins his gospel in a different way than Matthew, Luke and John. Matthew and Luke give lengthy accounts of the birth of Christ. John goes all the way back to eternity. Mark, however, simply gives an Old Testament quote. That said, Scripture, at this time, was primarily the Old Testament and in this quote Mark links the Old Testament with his writing showing that Jesus is continuing the old covenant community.

Mark combines 3 Old Testament messianic texts: Exodus 23:20 (1526-1446 BC), Isaiah 40:3 (739-681 BC), Malachi 3:1 (538-333 BC)

Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

A voice is calling,
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

By themselves, these passages are interesting. The Exodus verse, "angel" has been said to be Moses but also the Messiah or Christ as a messenger sent to rescue people. Isaiah 40:3 is a verse quoted by John in John 1:23 ascribing it to himself as the "voice." Now, as a reminder, this book of Mark is written between 57 and 59 AD, so it is 20 years since Jesus' death. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. And this Malachi verse is speaking of someone preparing the way of the Lord, the Lord Jehovah. In other words, Mark is proclaiming immediately that John is preparing the way for Jehovah God or God. Personal, I think THE central issue in all of religious history is whether Jesus is God. And right now, 2 to 3 verses into his book Mark is saying "John is coming and preparing the way for the Lord - for God - for Jesus." 

John is the Messenger who will prepare the Lord's way.  He is linking the exodus or the deliverance of God's people, or to say it another way, the exodus follows the Babylonian exile and the final atonement for sin, and all things will consummate in the Christ: Jesus is coming to His temple, our God is coming on the highway. And John is showing the way and introducing Jesus who will come.  

And yet, Mark uses the present tense in talking about this. He is sure of it. 

Promise: We need to be grounded in the study of the Old Testament. Jesus is Coming. His way is being prepared. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the clarity of Your Word. Thank you for coming as you have and showing us that you are consistent with the message of the Scripture. Continue to give me understanding of Your Word as I study it.

Study Question: did God use anyone in your life to help you understand Jesus? When I was 15, God used several people - he provided people from church that came and visited me; he provided a pastor at a church gathering and he used a friend that was 17, 2 years older than me -- all of them helped me to understand Jesus for the first time and who he was and what he did for me. Who did God use in your life?

Mark 1:1 - The Second Evangelist

Mark 1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

Message: The Second Evangelist

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word immediately used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

I continue to follow the Tabletalk reading plan, although slowly since I started getting them in 2013. Mark was studied throughout 2016 and so I still play catch up. But, I enjoy taking my time as well.

Gospel refers to good news and more specifically, the good news of Jesus Christ, the way of salvation. Mark does not speak of Jesus' early life, but is focused on Jesus' life on the road to the cross and resurrection.

MacLaren touches on the history of this word gospel. It is used in speaking of the Gospel of the Kingdom as much as it is used in reference to the Gospel of the King. Paul may have originated the term as it is found mostly in his writings. It is not in John's gospel, nor Luke, twice in Acts. John instead uses terms like "the witness," "the truth" or "the message" in some ways conveying the same idea. James, Jude, nor Hebrews uses it, and 3 times by Peter.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God on earth is the good news of the establishment on earth of the rule of God in the hearts and lives of men. But, expounding further, what is this good news and what in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection constitutes good news. Martyrs are not new to history. Good news does not seem to simply be these 3 events (life, death, and resurrection), but rather it is the journey of Jesus and how he came about to die for sinners that constitute the good news.

Yet, the message of Jesus, as presented here and in the gospels and epistles is not one distinctly of Jesus, but there is a synchronized message of Jesus and Father of God. Everywhere Jesus is, God is as well. Their relationship is what is seen. Thus, it is not simply the gospel of Jesus, but the gospel of the glory of God. This salvation meaning is to know that God cares for me and loves me to such a degree that he would send His Son to live for me, to die for me, in order that I might be delivered from the bonds and death of sin. And everywhere the response to this is clearly seen as we drop everything to consecrate our lives in service to Him.

Everywhere this message is put forth, their is a response from people. Not everyone turns and runs to him. There is an expression of faith in him that shines.

It is not simply a retelling of a man, Jesus Christ, but he is the Son of God. Thus, this is an account that demands respect.

There is no other message. There is not a second gospel or second message. This is it and all other messages are counterfeit attempts to get to God, for this message is the only one that speaks of a man dying for our sins. This is a message for everyone, Jews and Gentiles, all people.

Promise: Here is the proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God, the chief cornerstone and ambassador of God moving on earth to life and dying for the sins of mankind, and living in the hearts and lives of people that call upon him and have faith in him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Mark and his ministry and his book. Thank you that 2000 years later I can read of it and it can minister to me and those near me. Help me through it. Help me to remain consistent in studying it and bring people to know you through it. Help me to understand who you are as I read it, examining carefully the message. 

Study Question: What is your understanding of the meaning of the word "gospel?"

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 - Our Certainty in an Uncertain World

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Message: Our Certainty in an Uncertain World

Time: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. The conventional belief is that the author is Solomon. The book was likely written towards the end of Solomon's reign, approximately 935 B.C. It is a book of perspective whereby the speaker reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning. He accepts that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God and advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I have studied this book off and on the past couple of years, I have seen some interesting conclusions about life. Life is not meaningless, but it is fleeting and repetitive. This book was written some 3000 years ago and yet its principles still hold true. That is amazing and yet, should remind me that much of life is the same in thought and deed. We have more conveniences today and more resources, but the nuts and bolts of life remain the same. 

For each of us, there is a proper time to do (3:2). Our lives are not much different than the beasts of the field who live for a while, then die. In life, we are to enjoy it. We are to enjoy the time with our wives and enjoy our labor and the fruits of it. Youth is a time of strength, but old age will come as well, and our bodies will get weak and our thinking will be more firm and unbending. 

Knowledge is interesting as well in life. We often are on a pursuit for more and more understanding, yet in this understanding we often end up with more questions than answers. Riches are something we pursue, but if we love them too much, they will not satisfy. Sometimes we work and acquire, only to die and have someone else enjoy them. There is no guarantee that the righteous man's life will be prolonged by being righteous or the wicked person's life will be short. Often the opposite is seen. 

The conclusion reached here by the Preacher is not to throw up one's hand in despair, but rather to find in God, in His Word, in Christ, we have all that we need and we have a certainty. The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. This is every person. No one is exempt. We are to fear God and keep His commandments. God sees all that we do. God also sees what man doesn't, our motivation and reason for doing what we do. Our reward is coming. And all of life will be exposed.

Fear the Lord
Repent of our sin
Trust in Him alone
Live a life of gratitude by keeping His commands
Enjoy Him for eternity

Promise: For each person, the same holds: fear God and keep His commandments.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for giving us a book like Ecclesiastes, that helps me to review life and see it for what it is. Thank you that you show me the importance of enjoying each day, enjoying my wife and family and provide me opportunities to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I appreciate this and value this in my life, but I also return to You and realize that my life remains about loving You and keeping your commandments. Help me to remain steady, despite ailments I may be experiencing more and more as I age. I never want to lose sight of You and who I am in You. Thank you Lord. I praise Your Name. 

Psalm 144:9-15 - The Blessings of Having the Lord God

Psalm 144:9-15

9 I will sing a new song to You, O God;
Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 Who gives salvation to kings,
Who rescues David His servant from the evil sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens,
Whose mouth speaks deceit
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,
And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;
13 Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce,
And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14 Let our cattle bear
Without mishap and without loss,
Let there be no outcry in our streets!
15 How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Message: The Blessings of Having the Lord God

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

In review of the first 8 verses of this Psalm, David is crying out to the Lord recognizing first that God is great and the reality that he is small. God is the reason people see him as great. God is the reason he is a warrior in battle and is the reason he is the leader over his people. David also can't quite understand why God would even consider him of value. I know many times I have wondered why God would choose me. The peace I have seems almost unfair to what others have in our world. In light of this perspective, David calls on God to work in a mighty way.

This perspective or view point of God being the one that is capable of delivering and rescuing David continues in verse 9 forward.

His Determination
I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You. Here is David's crescendo proclamation that the Lord God is in charge. His song, his new song, his forever song to he Lord is to sing his praises. Victory is in Jesus, now and forever.

His Discernment: Destroys Them
Who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David His servant from the evil sword. David had been in many battles and yet he is not ever testifying of his own greatness, but all of his praise of being rescued from the evil sword resides in the Lord.

His Discernment: Defame Them
Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. David has clearly seen the evil present in many people's lives. It is no fun to witness evil, but it is there. He may have even been thinking of the murder of Amasa by Joab recorded in 2 Samuel 20. Joab was a cold-blooded murderer. Just as there are truly good people we want to emulate their are bad people we detest. But being rescued and delivered belongs in the hands of God.

His Desire: For A Magnificent Population 
Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace. David envisions a nation of youth drawing their strength from the Lord. These are people sure of their foundation. May we have youth in our country proud of our country, proud of our nation.

His Desire: For a Manifest Prosperity
Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce, and our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; Let our cattle bear. He thinks of a nation with a healthy economy, where production is high and the gross national product beyond all normal expectation. In many ways this is modern day America.

His Desire: For a Meaningful Peace
Without mishap and without loss, let there be no outcry in our streets! Here there are no invasions of our country by a foreign foe. Are we a nation of peace? Unfortunately, we have lost our way as a nation from this with the many killings that occur at our schools, our military bases, businesses -- there is nothing that is truly safe now. 9/11 also showed that we can be attacked. For a moment, after that, people returned to the Lord, but it was momentary. Afterwards, they returned to their ways. What is missing from people? A right relationship with the Lord.

His Desire: For a Mirthful People
How blessed are the people who are so situated; how blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! We have all the resources to be content, but somehow we aren't. We are often a people still wanting more or being told we need more. And being taught that our economy is focused on people getting more. We have a lot but in order to get it we must borrow. It's amazing where we are at.

Here is the statement that should be the hallmark of our lives -- How blessed (happy) are the people whose God is the Lord. We think we have made it on our own, but actually, our praise belongs to the Lord. We need to return to this.

Promise: David recognizes in this Psalm that the secret to life is no secret. It is very apparent that God is to be our Lord and King and we are happiest in all of life with him at the center. This psalm declares that everything good about man is from God. Our positions, our roles, our jobs, our families, our money, our possessions is all there when we place him in charge. Evil men will continue, but we an rest in the Lord being our rescuer and deliverer.

Prayer: Thank You God for saving us. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for giving me life, abundance life, and peace, abundant peace. Help me to declare you and praise your name and acknowledge you as the reason for it all. I pray that you would be our peace. I pray that you would train us in how to be content and not simply focused on having more. Daily, bring back the joy of our salvation so we never lose that perspective of making you known in our world. Save me and save my family and friends. I praise you. And I thank you for what you have done so far. You are great.