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I have been young, and now am old

Psalm 37:25-40  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  He is ever merciful and lends; and his seed is blessed.  Depart from evil, and do well, and dwell for evermore.  For the Lord loves judgment and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.  The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of judgment.  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.  The wicked watches the righteous and seeks to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.  Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.  I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay tree.  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.  Mark the perfect man and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.  But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.  And the Lord shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.  (KJV)

This psalm is a psalm that readers turn to when they face difficult times in their life. These times are not just trouble times, but usually a time when the only one a person can turn to is God. However, it is also a time when God has also seemed to have forsaken them. It was this psalm that I turned to at one of the most difficult times in my life. It is a time when the wickedness of the someone who at one time was very close to me turned and tried to destroy everything in my life. It was a time like Joseph faced when his own brothers sold him as a slave. It was a time in my life that I learned how to pray thy will be done instead of my will be done. Verses four and five gave me at that time an insight on how to pray. Three things on my part were required: delight myself in the Lord, commit my ways to the Lord, and trust in the Lord; by following these three simple steps the Lord will give to me the desires of my heart.

I now realize that these principles become clearer as one ages and applies life experiences to the scriptures. It is in the example that God gave me from the life of Joseph that I can see how these principles governed his life. He was only seventeen when his own brothers sold him into slavery. However, instead of trying to gain his freedom and taking vengeance on his brothers for this act he accepted the place where the Lord placed him and committed his ways to the Lord. The phase “but the Lord was with Joseph” characterized his life. Joseph learned to apply the principles of trust and obey in his life and knew that God would be with him, both in the hard times as well as the good times. He was a slave and a prisoner of the state for thirteen years, yet he still followed the principles of committing your ways to the Lord and trusting in Him (trust and obey). It was at the time of Jacob’s death that we truly see how these principles played out in Joseph’s life. As I read Genesis chapter fifty, I realized Joseph’s brothers had not ask for forgiven yet for their treatment of Joseph at age seventeen. This selfish act on their part not only effected Joseph life, but also had a profound effect on Jacob his father and Benjamin his brother. It took thirty-nine years, the death of their father, and the fear that Joseph would pay them back in full for all the wrong they did to him before they tried to patch up the incident with Joseph. And even in this process they did not want to address the real issues which was the fact of their own sinfulness in the way they handed Joseph over into slavery. Joseph weep when they spoke, because he had already forgiven them, but he saw how they lived in fear because they could not face the truth of forgiveness. Joseph answer to them reveals his trust on the Lord to guide his life. When you are following these principles then you like Joseph can say “for I am in God’s place”. When walking with God in this world we will face times in our life when people (even our own family) do evil things against us. However, if we wait on the Lord and keep his ways then we will see the desire of our hearts fulfilled and will be able to say, “therefore what you meant for evil against me, God meant it for good”.

“The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip” the righteous will not fall. As we see the fruit of wicked schemes of greed and corruption around us fall, we must realize that God is our stronghold the one we take refuge in these times of trouble. So, when the topic about the economic failures and other events of disaster from around the world come about in your conversation you can take comfort in these verses. Live by these phases and know that God is our refuge. Then let the world see God’s law alive in your life so that the light of his law will reflect God to them. These phases are:
Do not fret (3 times)
Do not be envious of those who do wrong
Trust in the Lord (2 times)
Delight yourself in the Lord
Commit your ways to the Lord
Be still before the Lord
Wait patiently for him (2 times)
Refrain from anger
Turn from wrath
Hope in the Lord
Give generously
Turn from evil and do good
Utters wisdom and speak what is just
Keep the Lord way
Consider the blameless
Observe the upright
Seek refuge in the Lord

Verse 25 “I was young and now I am old” lets us know that this psalm was written when David was old. This psalm reflects David’s beliefs and pattern of life that as a king and a father he wanted to pass on to others. In Psalm 51:12,13 he writes “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” His desire was to live by God’s ways and teach others of the joy of living in God’s ways. Ecclesiastes is another example of scripture that was written by an old man. However, this was written by Solomon who at the end of his life was told that the kingdom that God had given his father and when to him would not be passed to his son. Why? Because he forsook God’s ways and served another God’s. It is interesting to see his words in Ecclesiastes: 12:8-14 “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Therefore, heed the words of David in this psalm so that in your old age you will not have to write as Solomon did in Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come and the years draw nigh, when thou shall say I have no pleasure in them.”

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Understanding God’s Word

I have a note in my Bible in the margin of this psalm to read Matthew chapter four where Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil as I study this psalm. It is amazing how much I have discovered the way Christ led his life here on this earth by my daily reading of the Psalms. As one reads Psalm ninety-one the reader could refer both to the believer who is trusting completely in God or Christ himself when he dwelt on this earth. Note also in Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” are the same angels found here in this psalm in verses eleven and twelve.

These were the verses that the devil tried to misinterpret in Matthew 4:6. However, as I look at the Lord’s answers in Matthew chapter four they come from the book of Deuteronomy (8:3, 6:16, and 6:13). We see that just as Satan twisted the words of the Lord in the Garden to Eve he used the same to Christ as he also does today against us.  This is why we must heed the words of Paul to Timothy “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 3:15)

As we go about on journey on this earth the key to this journey is found in verse fourteen. Because I love God, God will rescue and protect me and because of my love I will acknowledge God before others. The love of God is much greater than that of a father or mother toward her their own child. And the love of the believer picture here is much greater than the love a son or daughter can have for their own parent. Just as the devil tried to misinterpret these verses to Christ in the desert; the sinful nature that is found in the world around us also tries to blind us to these verses that reveals to us the truth about how close a relationship we can have with God.

The opening statement of this psalm ” he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High” sets the stage for all believers. One of the most precious teachings of Christianity is that of the priesthood of the believer. As Peter writes in his first epistle, we are not only priest, but a people of God’s own possession for the purpose to show forth the excellencies of God who call us out of darkness into his marvelous light. When we make God our refuge, our hiding place we place ourselves in his care and our faith grows. As this relationship of trusting in the Lord grew, we learn to love him more. We come to the realized of how important the first law of the Ten Commandments in our relationship with God. Having no other Gods before him truly means dwelling in his presence. This relationship with God is very important. By resting in the Lord, we become as a young chick who stays near the wings of the caring hen. We will not fear what will happen to us as we perform the daily routines that are in our lives and careers. For in the moment of danger we know we have protection under the mother’s wings. As I was studying Matthew chapter twenty-three last night this example of a hen and her chicks was used by Christ in his lament over Jerusalem’s rejection of him.  Matthew 23:37b “how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!”  The secret to living this type of life is giving up the pride we have in being able to do things my way instead of God’s way.  A surrendering to God’s shelter provides will provide the peace of God that will be upon you with the long satisfy life he gives those who walk in his way.

Verse fourteen states “Because he loves me, says the Lord” is the focus point of our relationship with God.  My relationship with God is not based upon the way I live my life, but with whom I chose to have fellowship and companionship. I might not force God on others; however, I will not deny him as my God because I will acknowledge him to all who inquiries into my faith.

As I studied Luke 2:41-52 this morning I realized that this is the only glimpse of the boyhood of Christ in the scripture. We can see from these verses that there was a purpose that Jesus had in his life and that was to be about his Father’s business. As I read this psalm, I can picture Christ in his early age as a boy, just as David was a boy that spent his time mediating on God’s Word. In this Psalm I can picture Christ reading this psalm and seeing David as the subject of this Psalm placing himself as a lamb under the care of his shepherd. It is not how great and powerful the shepherd makes the lamb, but how the shepherd protects him. David realized that God was in control no matter had difficult the situation seems to be around him. This psalm instructs us on how living a life of faith in God just as the example that Christ’s life points to the secret of living a blameless life.  And that secret is a simple trust in the Most High. In Luke chapter two verse fifty-two the simple statement “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man”, is an example of how we a believer must grow in our life. So instead of focusing on the glorification of self as Satan wanted Christ to do in Matthew chapter four, we need to be focusing on dwelling in the shelter of the Most High and growing in our love for Him.

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The Prophets

Luke 24:25-27 “Then he said upon them, O fools and so slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded unto them in all scriptures the things concerning himself.

One of my Old Testament teachers told us that if he could ever be at any event in the past this walk with these two disciples and the Lord would be this event.  To hear the Lord expound upon all the scriptures relating to him from the writings of Moses and all the prophets would also make his heart burn within him as it would reveal all the scriptures about the Lord.  In Luke twenty-four verse forty-four the Lord again reinforces the scriptures by stating these are the words that I spoke unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which was written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  In second Peter chapter one verses fifteen through twenty-one Peter explains that even with his eyewitnesses of the Lord’s ministry and even his experience he shared with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration, we have the more sure word of prophecy to place our faith on the Lord.  These verses show how important it is to hide God’s Word in your heart to be the light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path as I go on our journey on this earth. 

With this knowledge of how important the writings of the Old Testament were in revealing the Lord to the world on His first coming how much more such we look to the scriptures for understanding His second coming.  Peter writes in his second epistle chapter three how he write these words to stir up your pure minds concerning the writings of the prophets as well as the commandment given to the apostles of the Lord concerning His second coming.  He warns us as believers that in the last days there will be a rejection of the return of the Lord.  But this is not the case for the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens and earth will pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. 

Just as the scriptures were not really understood concerning the Lord’s first coming by the Jewish nation until their fulfillment by the Lord’s ministry, death, and resurrection; so are the scriptures concerning His second coming by the world today.  We need therefore to heed the warning of the Lord found in Matthew chapter twenty-four verse forty-four of being ready for His return, for we don’t know the hour of His return but it could come at any moment.

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My hope is in thy Ordinances.

Vav

41 Let thy steadfast love come to me, O LORD, thy salvation according to thy promise.

42 then shall I have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in thy word.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in thy ordinances.

44 I will keep thy law continually, for ever and ever.

45 and I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought thy precepts.

46 I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame.

47 for I find my delight in thy commandments, which I love.

48 I revere thy commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on thy statutes.

As I reflect upon these verses this morning I am reminded of the Lord’s reminder to us in Matthew chapter six verses twenty-five and twenty-six. “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, what you will wear.  Is life not more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not more valuable than they are? As I look at these verses in relationship to verse forty-three of this psalm I am reminded of the song Standing on the Promises of Christ My King.

The words of this song reflects the truth of the words that Paul wrote about in Romans chapter eight verse thirty-eight and thirty-nine of the true relationship that a Christian can experiences with Christ in their life.  “For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.    

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Turn your eyes upon Jesus

He

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein do I delight.

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness!

37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy ways.

38 Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

40 Behold, I have long after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. (KJV)

These verses reinforce how important a daily walk with the Lord in his Word is to the Christian life.  We can turn to self help books, or to daily devotional guides, or even to a website just like this one to help us on our journey through life; however, these are just the seasoning for our daily meal.  The real meal a Christian needs is God’s Word.  The beauty of the scripture in a believer’s life is that the hiding of the Word in your heart it will influence your daily decisions.  In verse 34 the psalmist is asking the Lord to give him understanding of the law, so that he could observe with his whole heart.  In verse 36 the psalmist is requesting the Lord to incline his heart toward the testimonies of the Lord, so he would not have covetousness.

These verses are reinforced by I John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”  Verse 37 reinforces these verses from I John, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy ways.” reminds me of one of the songs I learned early in my Christian life “Turn your eyes Upon Jesus”.  Just hiding the refrain of this song in your heart will help reinforce these scriptures in your daily life. 

          Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

          Look full in His wonderful face,

          And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Let your heart be like David’s “A man after God’s own heart”

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It takes Time

Daleth

25 My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to thy word!

26 When I recount my ways, thou didst answer me; teach me thy statutes!

27 Make me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy wondrous works.

28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to thy word!

29 Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me thy law!

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set thy ordinances before me.

31 I cleave to thy testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!

32 I will run in the way of thy commandments when thou enlargest my understanding!

It Takes Time

One of the hardest aspects of our human existence is learning to wait.  We live in the present, having the experience of our past to guide us, but wanting our perceived future to be happening around the next corner.  Growing in the faith and knowledge of our Lord and Savior takes time.  It is a process of a daily study of the scriptures and then applying these truths to our daily experiences.  To make this growing process even harder is we have to unlearn a lot of our experiences from the past.  This is what Saul of Tarsus (Paul) had to do before the Lord could use him.

Galatians 1:15-18 “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen:  immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him for fifteen days.

Saul was a Pharisee, considering zeal of the righteousness of the law, blameless.  But these things that were gain to him was counted as lost for Christ.  His new righteousness was found in Christ through faith.  I believe a lot of this revelation came to him in the time of his aloneness in Arabia where he had a time of self examination of all his past experience and his new experience that he had on the road to Damascus.  This alone time with the scriptures and looking at our life experiences will open the door for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us.  It does not happen overnight.  Waiting for the Lord to open our understanding into the happening issues of our life takes time.  This time might be a few days, or it could be years.

So, cherish the quiet time you can get from studying the Bible and reflect on these words day and night.  These times will help you get through the trouble times we will face.  And as Paul states in Philippians four let your mediations focus on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever, things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  And the peace of God shall be with you.  This peace is wonderful, for it has been the guiding force for most of my life.

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Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law

 Gimel

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live and observe thy word.

18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

19 I am a sojourner on earth; hide not thy commandments from me!

20 My soul is consumed with longing for thy ordinances at all times.

21 Thou dost rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from thy commandments.

22 take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept thy testimonies.

23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, thy servant will meditate on thy statutes.

24 Thy testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (KJV)

As I study the life of Paul I realize had much knowledge he had of the Torah, the Prophets and the Writing (our Old Testament) that he acquired in his early training as a Pharisee.  However, he also was probably trained in all the traditions of the elders, which Jesus preached against as setting aside the commandments of God in order to keep the traditions of the elders (Mark 7:1-23).   It was only after Paul’s encounter with Christ that he approached and applied his knowledge of the scriptures in a different matter.  He found the key to understanding them in Jesus.  I believe it was these three quiet years in Paul’s life that he searched the scriptures (our Old Testament) and let the Holy Spirit open his heart truly understand all the references of Christ found in Torah, the Prophets, and the writings. 

By studying the lives of the Old Testament saints, we can see how God prepares those that he uses for the work of His ministry before they are even aware that God is going to use them.  A great example of this is Moses.  He was educated in all the learning the Egyptians and was a man of power in words in deeds.  However, it took forty years in the wilderness and the becoming a shepherd before God approached him to the task of leading Israel for the next forty years.  It was also during these last forty years that God inspired Moses to give us the Pentateuch.  When we study Paul we realized that God had the same plan for him as he had for Moses.  Not only did Paul have the role of the apostle to the Gentiles, but he also wrote thirteen epistles, and possibly the book of Hebrews which guide the church through his ministry and for the last two thousand years. 

In II Timothy 2:15 Paul tells Timothy to study to show himself approver unto God as a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  Paul realized how important this quiet time was in the scripture.  I have a note in my Bible that I made many years ago.  As I study the scriptures in my later years I realized that my views are not changing but growing as the Holy Spirit opens up the meaning of the scriptures as I seek to know more about Jesus and His love.  It is in these still quiet moments as we let the things of earth grow strangely dim and we seek to let the Holy Spirit speak to us that the peace of God that passes all understands enters into our live.

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How can a young man keep his way pure?

Psalm 119:9-16

Beth

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word.

10 With my whole heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy commandments!

11 I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.

12 Blessed be thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes!

13 With my lips I declare all the ordinances of thy mouth.

14 In the way of thy testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on thy precepts and fix my eyes on thy ways.

16 I will delight in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word. (NIV)

As a young man, we must heed the call of God. This concept of God’s desire seems to get lost in our everyday routine of living. If we are not careful Satan, the cares of this world, or the desires of this world will rob us of a desire that God wants for us in our life. In the devotion for June 11 in his book, My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers writes:

The questions that truly matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by these words— “Come to Me.” Our Lord’s words are not, “Do this, or don’t do that,” but— “Come to me.” If I will simply come to Jesus, my real life will be brought into harmony with my real desires. I will actually cease from sin and will find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.

This is what David is writing here in these eight verses in this second section of Psalm 119. As I look back on my life as well as the lives of other Christians I know or have known; I realize that it was not our seeking after God that brought God in our lives, but it was the way that we responded to the seeking God as we opened our hearts and let him enter our inmost place to dwell. Once we open this door and receive Him then the true transformation of bringing our life into harmony with His desires for us will take place and we can then experience the peace that passes understanding in our life.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding his daily walk according to God’s Word and seeking Him with my whole heart. I will not wander away from His commandments, statutes, ordinances, testimonies or precepts.  Instead, I will delight in them and declare them to the world as I strive to be godly witness to this transforming power of God in my own life.  

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Experiencing The Word

Experiencing The Word

Psalm 119:1-8

Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

3 who also do no wrong but walk in his ways!

4 Thou hast commanded thy precepts to be kept diligently.

5 O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping thy statutes!

6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all thy commandments.

7 I will praise thee with an upright heart, when I learn thy righteous ordinances.

8 I will observe thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly! (NIV)

One of the great pleasures I have discovered in retirement is I now have the time to enjoy reading.  I love collecting books that adds spiritual depth to my daily Bible studies.  One of my favorite places to go on this quest to find new books to add to my library are the Goodwill stores around my location.  I have been amazed at how many wonderful books ends up at these stores.  Several months ago, I picked up the book title “Experiencing The Word New Testament”.  What catch my eye about this book was the subtitle “with notes by Henry Blackaby” who wrote the book Experiencing God.  I had already read some of his works, so I knew this would be a great book to add to my library.  Like many books this one was presented to Brad and Kim and Family by Kenny on Thanksgiving 2006.  The sad story about this book was that it looked like it was brand new and had never been used.  That is now not longer the case, as it is now one of the many references books that I use as I study the Bible daily. 

What is so wonderful about this book is the godly advice that Dr. Blackaby gives to the students of God’s Word as they study New Testament from this “The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)”. Dr. Blackaby uses seven themes to help the readers experience God in their everyday living experiences.  These seven themes are: Seek relationship with God first, tune your heart to hear God’s voice, live the Word through experience, surrender your rights, know God’s will by knowing God’s heart, obey, obey, and keep on obeying, relax and let your witness happen naturally.  These seven themes will help keep the student’s focus of studying the New Testament on living a life that truly seeks to experience God in every aspect of their daily living. These themes are like the nine themes that David writes about in Psalm 119.  These nine themes are: law, precepts, testimonies, commandment, ordinances, promises, statues, way, and word of the LORD.  There are one hundred and seventy-six verses in this psalm.  They are divided into twenty -two section (a section for each letter of the Hebrew language) with eight verses in each section.

By focusing on these nine key words the reader of the first eight verses of Psalms one hundred and nineteen can gain a better understanding of how to walk daily in this world.  These verses apply to those who’s desire is to walk in the way of the blameless.  These verses describe the one who walks in the law of the Lord, who keep his testimonies, who walk in his ways, who keep his precepts as well as his statues, while focusing on his commandments and his righteous ordinances.  This is the person who will be blessed by the Lord as they seek him with a whole heart. So, as you look at your daily schedule, remember to look up and realize that the God who lives way up there in the sky desires to be your personal Savior.  The key to this wonderful life is to trust Him and walk in His way.  

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Lord knows

Psalm 1:6a For the Lord knows the way of the righteous.

Galatians 1:15, 16a But when He who set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His son in me that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.

Paul in the first chapter of Galatians reveals how he believed that God had set him apart at birth to be the apostle to the Gentiles. This belief that God sets aside individuals for His purpose to represent Him and deliver His message to the world was something that he was taught very early in his childhood and then as he continue his training as a Pharisee.  From his studies of the Torah Paul learned of the calling of Noah, Abraham, Joesph, Moses, Josuha, Samuel, David, and all of the other men and women that God had called and used. As Paul studied the Torah (our Old Testament) he saw the ways that God called these individuals into His service.  After his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus he looked upon his calling as well as the calling of the other apostles the same way that God had called these saints found in the Torah.

Paul extended this belief that God has given to us as believers a calling just as He gave His calling the Paul and the other apostles.  In I Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first as apostles, secondarily as prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracle, then gifts of healing, helps, government, diversities of tongues.”   In other words, God has given us as believers gifts for his purpose.  However, Paul gives us these words of warning about these gifts or callings that God has given us in I Corinthians 12:31.  This is the important verse that Paul introduces us to the great love chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians chapter thirteen which is the true way of God.  We are to earnestly to covet the best gifts that God has given us, and yet Paul in the great love chapter shows us the more excellent way.  This is the way of the righteous these who walk in the way that God loves. So, if your calling is like the great calling of calling of Hannah (I Samuel 2:21), or like the widow of Zarephath (I Kings 17:9) God will bless you in all that you do.  So whatsoever you do in word or deed do it upon the Lord.