The Bible says much about the righteous.  A simple word search shows the word appearing in some form 304 times!  There's a desire to be righteous.  God says it's a noble pursuit, but in the end, somewhat futile.  (Isaiah 64:6).  That's because when we try to be righteous on our own.....it just doesn't work out.  There is ONE who makes us righteous.  Jeremiah prophesied about it (Jer 23:6).  Both Peter and John declared His righteous work for us was done! (1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:1). This fact is what makes Proverbs 18:10 so powerful.
“The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10 NIV11-GK)
Safety in the Name of the Lord!  Praise God! 

Leadership books abound.  We all want the secret, the knowledge and the insight to lead people and organizations correctly and efficiently.  There is a proverb in Scripture that is like the best of the podcasts, books and seminars available out there.  It is profound in its scope and yet concise in it's simplicity.  The proverb is in chapter 19 verse 21

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21 NIV11-GK)

Plans are great when they are followed. We can avoid waste, duplication and error when we plan and carry out our plans.  The prophet Isaiah spoke from the Lord once and provided a great contrast between the plans of men and the plan of God.  It relates specifically to  the first element of a plan.  The thought that brings the plan.

“Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9 NIV11-GK)
God's perspective has a positive effect on our ways and plans. 
Praise God! 

Spreading the word about the good news in Jesus Christ happens many ways. Personal relationships are one of the best because we would like to think our friend wouldn't encourage us to make a wrong decision.  Print materials, online and television venues are quite powerful as well.  Some mistakenly believe it's the full time vocational minister that bears the weight of that responsiblity.  Jesus offers us another and I consider most powerful way. Pray for workers. Luke records it for us. “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the workers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2 KJV) An efficient means to get the work done! Praise God! 

That's what Jesus said.  He said many things that can change the world.  Theologians refer to this as the ethics of Jesus.  Jesus said it was the ethics of those who believed in Him.  He did promise to return.  He certainly came to lift the burden of sin and give us abundant life.  He also said "do good to them that despitefully use you and persecute you". (Matt 5:44).  In our own efforts it is a complete impossibility to accomplish this high ethic. Because of the work of Christ on the cross we can actually get it done!  Praise God! 

PRAISE GOD! 

There is a great song in our Christian history called "Count Your Blessings".... The verses in the song are quite powerful.  One of them is, "When you look at others with their land and gold, think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.  Count your many blessings!  Money cannot buy, your reward in heaven or your home on high!  This makes me think of that great verse in 1 Peter 1:8
Pet. 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Sometimes those great Christian songs can lead us straight to the word of God!  Praise God! 

When Peter was writing to the Christians scattered all over the Roman empire, he focused on the final and grand deliverance promised by our Lord.  He also gave some Spirit inspired wisdom about the kind of attitude Christians could have in the last days.  

2Pet. 3:14       So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

I love how it says "since you are looking forward to this" :-) May we all rejoice iin the Lord's patience and look forward to His return with joy!  Praise God! 

In Tennis or Volleyball, this would be a discussion on how to hit the ball over the net in such a powerful way that it throws off your opponent. On the other hand, If it's the action of service, then it requires some decisions.  Psalm 100 says it so simply and succinctly.

Psa. 100:2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

May our service be characterized today by gladness and singng!  Praise God! 

In studying literature we are taught about the different motifs of struggle.  First there is man vs. man, then man vs. nature, and finally man vs. himself.  The Bible describes a different struggle.  From man's point of view it's Man vs. God, but from God's point of view, it's "Stop fighting me and your life will be better." Zechariah understood that it was futile for mankind to try to do anything without God.  Even more so, God's work needs to be done by God. The words of Zechariah:
​Zech. 4:6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Praise God! 

The one phrase that describes the ministry of Chaplains in our culture today is "ministry of presence".  Whether they are institutional or military chaplains, their presence brings the physical reminder of the activity of God in the life of persons.  We have a 24/7 Chaplain with us known as the Holy Spirit.  Jesus mentioned His unique function coincidentally in verse 26 of both chapter 14 and 15. 
John 14:26 (NIV)
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 15:26 (NIV)
26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
We have the help of the Spirit 24/7 to guide, teach and comfort us!  Praise God! 

Jerusalem sits atop a hill.  Across the valley is the Mt. of Olives.  The high western mountains rise from north to south.  One day, the Psalmist observed that the abundance of mountains was akin to another reality.  The Lord's presence around His people.  Psalm 25:2

Psa. 125:2     As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
        so the LORD surrounds his people,
        from this time forth and forevermore.
The challenge you face today has already been addressed by the Lord.  He surrounds us!  Praise God! 

It had been 60 years since the ascension of Jesus.  John was on the isle of Patmos.  He was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.  God began to show Him the future.  I think it's so wonderful that the first person He noticed was the "Son of Man".  John would have recognized His face. Then He spoke.
Rev. 1:8        “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."  Glory!  It's in His own self-description we discover the full revelation the Bible gives from the Old Testament to the New.  He Lives today! The One who was, and is, and is to come!  Praise God!

We try.  The Biblical writers try to find the right words that display the magnitude, expanse, depth, width, height and quality of God's love.  It is only an attempt. Our human language literally cannot find the words to describe His limitless strength and might.  We come to the Bible and find that the authors under the help of the Holy Spirit still declare with confidence His greatness and His power.  Here is one example:
Psa. 103:11        For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his faithful love
    toward those who fear him.
​Praise God! 

The promises of Jesus stand as a fortress of faith in a changing world.  The world wants us to think that everything is random and disorganized. Jesus offers peace and safety, both now and forever.  One time He was talking about the future and guaranteed. His purpose had our welfare as His major concern.  John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

Your room is reserved!  Praise God!

The Hebrews have a great word for love.  It's a special kind of love.  It's unfailing, never-ending and valuable.  It doesn't wear out or expire. It never needs an upgrade. Sometimes it's translated "kindness" other times it's translated "love" . There's also "unfailing kindness" and "everlasting love".  It's a strong word that conveys deep meaning.  It's used to describe God's love.  What's the word? Thanks to Accordance Bible software, I can give you enough info that people who know Hebrew, and those who don't, can understand.  Here it is:

kindness  GK H02876  חֶסֶד  chesed 

[HMT-W4] חֶ֙סֶד֙ chesed  Noun comm masc sing abs  lovingkindness

By the way, God's loving activity is so many places in the Old Testament that the word is used 301 times! 

 Remember when you move your curser over each reference, the Scripture will pop up!   Here they are!

​(Gen. 19:19; 20:13; 21:23; 24:12, 14, 27, 49; 32:10; 39:21; 40:14; 47:29; Ex. 15:13; 20:6; 34:6–7; Lev. 20:17; Num. 14:18–19; Deut. 5:10; 7:9, 12; Josh. 2:12, 14; Judg. 1:24; 8:35; Ruth 1:8; 2:20; 3:10; 1 Sam. 15:6; 20:8, 14–15; 2 Sam. 2:5–6; 3:8; 7:15; 9:1, 3, 7; 10:2; 15:20; 16:17; 22:51; 1 Kings 2:7; 3:6; 8:23; 20:31; 1 Chr. 16:34, 41; 17:13; 19:2; 2 Chr. 1:8; 5:13; 6:14, 42; 7:3, 6; 20:21; 24:22; 32:32; 35:26; Ezra 3:11; 7:28; 9:9; Neh. 1:5; 9:17, 32; 13:14, 22; Esth. 2:9, 17; Job 6:14; 10:12; 37:13; Psa. 5:7; 6:4; 13:5; 17:7; 18:50; 21:7; 23:6; 25:6–7, 10; 26:3; 31:7, 16, 21; 32:10; 33:5, 18, 22; 36:5, 7, 10; 40:10–11; 42:8; 44:26; 48:9; 51:1; 52:1, 8; 57:3, 10; 59:10, 16–17; 61:7; 62:12; 63:3; 66:20; 69:13, 16; 77:8; 85:7, 10; 86:5, 13, 15; 88:11; 89:1–2, 14, 24, 28, 33, 49; 90:14; 92:2; 94:18; 98:3; 100:5; 101:1; 103:4, 8, 11, 17; 106:1, 7, 45; 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43; 108:4; 109:12, 16, 21, 26; 115:1; 117:2–118:4; 118:29; 119:41, 64, 76, 88, 124, 149, 159; 130:7; 136:1–26; 138:2, 8; 141:5; 143:8, 12; 144:2; 145:8; 147:11; Prov. 3:3; 11:17; 14:22, 34; 16:6; 19:22; 20:6, 28; 21:21; 31:26; Is. 16:5; 40:6; 54:8, 10; 55:3; 57:1; 63:7; Jer. 2:2; 9:24; 16:5; 31:3; 32:18; 33:11; Lam. 3:22, 32; Dan. 1:9; 9:4; Hos. 2:19; 4:1; 6:4, 6; 10:12; 12:6; Joel 2:13; Jonah 2:8; 4:2; Mic. 6:8; 7:18, 20; Zech. 7:9

Praise God! 

The book of Hebrews is fun to read.  It is a pleasant and powerful companion to the Old Testament.  The word "today" is in the book of Hebrews 8 times (Heb. 1:5; 3:7, 13, 15; 4:7; 5:5; 13:8).  The best one in my opinion is found in verse 8 of chapter 13.  It will be true tomorrow, and eons into the future.  It's practical right now and it's focus is on Jesus:

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Praise God! 

Computer programmers understand the importance of logic.  Everything we enjoy in the world of technology is based on conditional statements written into programs we use every day.  Some are called DO LOOPS.  The idea is to do a specified action and keep doing it until a certain condition is met.  Other programming commands are known as IF THEN.  If a certain condition is true, then a command is executed.  When Jesus promised to come again, He did it multiple times.  One of those times was in John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am
The logic of Jesus, is a blessing for us!  Praise God! 

Peter, like many believers must have felt that He was living in the end times.  Christian persecution was intensifying.  Circumstances from town to town were highly uncertain.  The church was advancing and churches were being built.  When he wrote 2 Peter, his attempt was to encourage the believers who were scattered around the world about the truth of Christ's return.  The thing I love about this book is Peter's reference to the promises of God.  It's quite a statement.   Christian hope is based on the promise. 

But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.(2Pet. 3:13 )

Our hope is certain, based on His promise.  Praise God!

Jesus clearly declared after the resurrection of His plan to come back.  He stated that we would not know the day or the hour.  His discourse in (Mattthew 24) about the end times is very instructive.  There are also prophesies about the universal peace He will establish on the earth.  Consider Zephaniah:

Zeph. 3:19     Yes, at that time
    I will deal with all who oppress you.
    I will save the lame and gather the outcasts;
    I will make those who were disgraced
    throughout the earth
    receive praise and fame.
20     At that time I will bring you back,
    yes, at the time I will gather you.
    I will give you fame and praise
    among all the peoples of the earth,
    when I restore your fortunes before your eyes.
    The LORD has spoken.

The Lord has promised to return and restore the fortunes of His people!  Praise God! 

Disappointment can be very discouraging.  Inherent within in it is a hope or expectation that has not been fulfilled and is also likely to never be fulfilled. People disappoint each other in every venue of human interaction.  When it comes to our faith, sometimes we may feel disappointment with God.  The great Christian writer Phillip Yancey wrote a whole genre of books around this theme.  I've read almost all of them.  He even has one entitled "Disappointment with God".

The word is only 2 times in the New Testament.  In one case (2 Cor 7:14) Paul is rejoicing to discover he was not disappointed with the spiritual formation and growth of the church.  The other case in the book of Romans is an assurance about our faith in Christ.

Rom. 5:5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

He is the only One that will never disappoint us.  He has forever sealed our redemption and our future!  Praise God! 

It can reasonably be asserted that every joy and pleasure in this life is temporary.  We are privileged to live this God-ordained life.  There is one thing that we experience now, that will never end.  The love of God.
The prophet Jeremiah declared it during the darkest time in the history of Judah:  
  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. (Lam 3:21-26)

I'll take the advice in verse 26.  It IS good to hope and wait for the salvation of the Lord.  Praise God!

Historic hymns and salvation history songs are a magnificent blend of the theological and the beautiful.  Poets have long been drawn to the lyrics of church music while the musicians themselves could write melodies that would lift with the theological insight.  Recently I was thinking of a song from my childhood written by William Clark Martin, entitled "Still Sweeter Everyday".  The chorus goes like this:
The half cannot be fancied, this side the golden shore, O there! He'll be still sweeter than He ever was before.
​As I sang it in my head I was reminded of the fast tempo and how it was hard to say the phrases and stay with the music at the same time.
In fact, you would hold "O There!" for a while and then rush "He'll be still sweeter than He ever was before!"  The song may still be a challenge, but the truth abides.  Praise God! 

The disciples did what Jesus asked them to do.  He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. (Acts 1:4-5) The Spirit showed up! They were all baptized with the Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:4).  Peter who was now full of the Spirit was no longer the courtroom coward, but ready to preach.  From Acts 2:14-41 he preaches a Spirit inspired sermon that exceeded everyone's expectation.  In the middle of this sermon, Peter quotes from Joel 2:28-32.  Then Peter boldly reflects on the effect of Christ's resurrection that had taken place some 90 days previously.  

 God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death. (Acts 2:24)

The effect of Christ's resurrection was clear and compelling.  The world had been changed for the better.  Praise God! 

The Spirit is active for sure.  He is involved in connecting us to God and assuring us of His presence.  He leads and guides.  As Jesus promised, He is the Spirit of Truth.  He also prays for us. 
​
Rom. 8:26        In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

God is associated with every detail of our life and is our #1 proponent and champion.  We can look up with hope today because the Creator of the universe, our Redeemer and our Guide is working in and through us for His great purposes.  Praise God!