Author: Chuck Musselwhite

Give Credit Where Credit is Due

I am always amazed at the arrogance of some people. They are impressed with themselves, and they are not shy about telling people. This is especially true with professional fighters. Their whole mantra is to exude confidence and to intimidate their opponent. King David was a mighty warrior, but he knew where his talents came from. He shows us to give credit where credit is due.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:34-35

“He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.”

David knew where his strength came from. He was an accomplished warrior, but deep inside, he knew where his abilities came from. It was from the Lord. His hands were ready for battle, but his victory was assured because a gentle God protected him. What made David special was that he gave credit where credit was due. He was humble.

Strength for Your Soul

As I write this devotional, I am exhausted. The last couple of weeks have had several significant events on top of my typical weekly responsibilities. The next couple of weeks are packed with similar events. It would be easy to sit here and feel sorry for myself. When life doesn’t seem to let up, you need to seek strength for your soul from the Holy Spirit.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:22‬

“strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

As Paul was planting churches all over the Roman empire, he would often go back and strengthen the disciples. This had to be a great encouragement as many had made a life-changing choice to follow Jesus. The Jew chose to leave the synagogue, which meant the Jewish community excommunicated them. For the Gentile, they were often seen as following a strange cult. Paul would come and encourage them to continue in the faith.

The Curse is Gone

When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, it brought a curse upon the earth. That curse was that sin came with a price tag of death. Since all of us are born into sin, that curse is transferred to us. The only thing that can remove that curse is a perfect sacrifice that appeases God’s wrath. Jesus was that sacrifice, and the curse was removed when we put our faith in Him. In Heaven the curse will be gone forever.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:3-4

“There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

Sin brought with a curse. That curse was death, along with all of the pain and sorrow that comes along with it. That will all be removed when we get to Heaven. Jesus will be on the throne. The Apostle John refers to Him as the Lamb of God. That is appropriate because Jesus made the necessary sacrifices to be in that place. He has removed the curse by defeating death and now holds all of the authority given to Him by His Father. That throne room is going to be a glorious place where you will freely worship Him.

Freed from All Things

One of the great things that happen in the church is to hear the testimony of how God set someone free from a lifetime of addiction. You hear how their life was near ruin, and Jesus was the only option left and how He came shining through when there was no more hope. Paul talks in Acts how you can be freed from all things by Jesus’ victory over death.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:39

“and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.”

Paul liked to debate in the synagogues in the cities he planted churches. He would start there first, and because he had the pedigree of being a Pharisee trained by Gamaliel, he was allowed to speak. He would use the Old Testament to prove that Christ was the Messiah they were looking for. Here in Antioch, he tells them that King David was laid with his fathers and his body turned to dust and bones, but Jesus didn’t see the corruption of turning to dust but was raised by HIs Father. Because of this, forgiveness of sin is offered, and those who believe can be freed from all things. That message usually got Paul booted out of the synagogue by week three, but many there believed and followed him.

I Will Not Be Shaken

There are events in your life that will leave you feeling like your world has been rocked. Successful navigation of those events requires depending on the Lord. There are also minor annoyances that can leave us frustrated and reeling. David understood those and determined in his heart, “I will not be shaken.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:8

“I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

There is a multitude of things that can rattle your cage every day. It could be something a simple as a misunderstood look that sets your day off on the wrong path. David understood this, and that is why he kept the Lord so close to him. The phrase “at my right hand” refers to something that is right there with you and is easily accessible. Think of your phone and how often you have it in your right hand or somewhere close by.

Jesus Will Make All Things New

Every year, in one of my devotionals, I talk about the strawberry season. I do that because we have the best strawberries where we live. I also do it because it signals that spring has arrived. Spring is the season of new life. The dark days of winter are behind us, and more green starts to appear. Jesus says that when we are with Him in heaven, he will make all things new

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:5

“And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

When the tribulation is done, and after all the judgments are complete, this current earth will pass away, and a new heaven and earth will be ushered in. There will be no more weeping or sorrow because Jesus will wipe away every tear and make all things new. This will be the dwelling place of both God and man. It will be perfect in every sense because Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. It’s hard to picture, but it is exciting to think about.

From the Belly of a Fish

Have you ever got into a predicament where it feels like the walls are closing in on you, and there doesn’t seem like any way out? If that is the case, you can relate with Jonah. Whether your situation was self-inflicted or caused by external influences, Jonah shows us that we care to turn to…

The Upright Christian Life

What does the upright Christian life look like? There is a lot of debate that goes on about that topic, but David gives us a concise checklist that can keep us on track. He tells us to walk in integrity, do the right thing, and speak the truth.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭15:1-2

“O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.”

David asks the question, “Who is able to be in God’s presence?” and then answers by saying the one who walks in integrity. Now there is an Old Testament slant to this question. By the old covenant, Israel had to live by the law and keep it. If they didn’t, consequences would come. It was also understood that God wouldn’t have anything to do with unrighteousness. While that principle was true, God often made exceptions. He extended grace to the Jews more often than not.

The Great White Throne Judgment

If you have ever stood before a judge, you have felt that sense of judgment. Even if you were innocent, you still stood there with a sense of possible doom if things didn’t go your way. At the final judgment, it won’t be a courtroom but a throne on which God sits and judges those who rejected His Son, Jesus. It’s called the Great White Throne Judgment.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:11‬

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.”

There will be two judgments at the end of time, one for believers and those who rejected Christ. For believers, you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of how you lived your life. Your reward in heaven will be based on what you did for God here. For those who rejected Jesus, there will be the Great White Throne judgment. This will be one of the most terrifying things ever! Here people will be judged by God and cast into eternal hell. I like how John calls it, “from whose presence earth and have fled away.” If that doesn’t send shivers down your spine, nothing will. As a believer, it should motivate you to take as many to heaven with you as possible.

Missed Opportunities

Some of the biggest regrets people have are missed opportunities. If they would’ve taken a chance, their life would be so much better. Jonah was presented with an opportunity to be used by God, but he chose to run away, which led to a storm, followed by being swallowed by a fish and then being spit out.

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1:10

“Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”

Jonah is a short book in a part of the Bible called the Minor Prophets. They are not minor because they are not equal to the other prophets, but their books are usually smaller. Jonah is a well-known Bible story because a fish swallowed him, but his book’s message much deeper. He was a prophet who didn’t want to do the assignment God gave him, so he ran away. God caused a massive storm which put the ship he was on in peril. The sailors were in disbelief that he would run from God.