Do you ever ask God for help? Well, you probably do every day. You see, we all need help from God. We all need to be rescued, redeemed, and delivered. We are a desperate people. You may need God to deliver you from your divorce, your adultery, your gossiping mouth, your lustful mind, or your boring life. My friend, please read Psalm 31, and find some help. Notice that God delivers us through our redeemer, Jesus Christ: our fortress, refuge, rock, foundation, savior, and helper. Have you gone to God for help, through his son? Jesus Christ blazes the trail to God for us. Go to Jesus. Walk with Jesus. And, find help through Jesus, today.

Today's passage:

31 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror on every side!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!17 O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.22 I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.

23 Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!

-Psalm 31:1-24 (esv)

We are continually chasing happiness. All of our lives revolves around our recreation. We are entertained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We've got phones, tablets, iPods, iPads, televisions, cable, satellite dish, direct tv ... you name it. But, are we really satisfied? Or a better, deeper question is this: Do we have lasting joy? I don't think we do. So, how do we find lasting joy? Well, read and meditate on David's musings in Psalm 30. Notice how David finds his joy in eternal, enduring things: rescue, salvation, strength, God's glory, and deep gladness. What about you? Have you found a joy that will last forever? If not, go to Jesus Christ. Fill your heart with his living water. Trust me, it really satisfies ...

Today's passage:

30 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."7 By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:9 "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!"

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

-Psalm 30:1-12 (esv)

Doesn't it feel good to finish a project? What a joy it is to celebrate a job well done! This is true spiritually, as well. Our redeemer, Jesus Christ, finished his work of salvation for us, on the cross. It is done! Our salvation is secure. But, we still have work to to do. Not the work of trying to save ourselves... No, we are to work out our sanctification (not our justification) with fear and trembling. We are to fight, wrestle, and mortify our sin. What about you? Are you fighting? Are you making war against the world, flesh, and the devil? Are you battling for holiness, and resting in your free justification, by faith in Christ alone? Friend, find eternal rest in Jesus today. Flee to Christ for his life-changing, sin-saving, and empowering grace.

Today's passage:

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

-Proverbs 6:6-11 (esv)

Are you content? Are you satisfied with your lot in life? Most people are not. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are craving. We are longing for the "good old days" or our future "blessing." But, we a not content with our life, today. What about you? Is Jesus enough? Does Jesus satisfy your every longing? Or, are you still craving something (or someone) else? Think it through ...

Today's passage:

11 And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. 3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them.

4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil. 9 When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.

10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. 11 Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,' to the land that you swore to give their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.' 14 I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness."

-Numbers 11:1-15 (esv)

How do we get the blessing of God? It seems like all of us want the "blessed life." Just look at social media. She is relaxing on the beach, drink in hand, watching the sunset, with freshly painted toe nails, and the caption reads "#blessed." In fact, we all want the blessings that God gives, but many of us do not really want God himself. Take a look in Numbers 6 at the blessing of God. God blesses those that he keeps, protects, illumines, looks after, and gives abiding peace. Does this describe your life? Are you resting in the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, run to Jesus with the empty hands of faith today. Receive Christ's mercy and grace, and follow him with wholehearted devotion. Give him everything. You will be glad, in the end!

Today's passage:

22 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

24 The LORD bless you and keep you;25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

27 "So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."

-Numbers 6:22-27 (esv)

Everybody says that they are searching for God. However, few are actually finding God. So, it's great to search, and not so great to find. Curious ... isn't it. But, is it really up to us? Do we find God? Or, does God find us? Take a look at Psalm 25. David vividly describes the narrow path to God? What is the path to God? Well, it is the path of trust, truth, love, humility, pardon, affliction, and redemption. All of these paths are completed in Jesus Christ. We go to God, by his Son, through his Holy Spirit. What about you? Are you humbly coming to God in humility, repentance, and faith?

Today's passage:

25 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

-Psalms 25:1-22 (esv)

Do you like to celebrate? It seems like every week, in America, we are celebrating something. Right? Halloween flows into Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving quickly flows into Christmas. And then, next thing you know, it New Year's Eve! Sometimes we forget the reason for the season. But, it is good for us to celebrate; especially, in our walk with God. You see, God has always called his people to remember. We are to remember God's faithfulness and provision in the past, so that we trust him in the present, and with our uncertain future. What about you? Do you take time to remember what God has done? Do you celebrate his goodness today? And, can you trust him with your unfolding future? Read Leviticus 23, and notice all the ways that God reminds his people to remember, and celebrate.

Today's passage:

23 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.

3 "Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.

4 "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD's Passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 8 But you shall present a food offering to the LORD for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work."

9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, 11 and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD. 13 And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the LORD with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin. 14 And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

15 "You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. 17 You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the LORD. 18 And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 19 And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all y

We all have a problem. It is called sin. We are separated from our holy, awesome God. We do what we should not do. And, we don't do what we should do (see Romans 7). So, how do we solve our sin problem? Well, we don't. In fact, we can't. But, God can. And, God has. How does God deal with our sins? Read Leviticus 16. Notice how God provides a sacrifice (an offering) to satisfy his wrath toward our sin. And, remember, friend, that Jesus is God's last, perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sin. Jesus is God's final, approved offering. Jesus is the "scapegoat" that "removes" our sins from us. So, go to Jesus and find forgiveness today. Go to Jesus and find righteousness today. He will provide you what you need for salvation and cleansing.

Today's passage:

3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. 5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 "Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

11 "Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 13 and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.

20 "And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and c

Wise people live with intention. They know God's redemptive path, and they walk accordingly. As John Calvin said, "They know God and they know themselves." What is more, wise people study their hearts, guard their hearts, and cultivate their hearts. Solomon says it this way: "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." So, friend, what about you? Do you pursue wisdom? Do you walk in the paths of the righteous? Is Jesus Christ producing springs of living water in and through your life?

Today's passage:

10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

-Proverbs 4:10-27 (esv)

How does God reveal himself to us? Well, here are few ways. Read and meditate on Psalm 19 for a few minutes. Notice that the psalmist sees God in nature, in scripture, in his sin, and in God's son. What about you? How does God reveal himself to you?

Today's passage:

19 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

-Psalm 19:1-14 (esv)