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A Glory Seed Devotional
Golden Nuggets from the Psalms…

“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalms 34:6-8 ESV)

I cannot read those verses in Psalms 34 without remembering 7 of the 9 Beatitudes: (Matthew 5:3-9 ESV)
(3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(5) "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
(6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
(7) "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
(8) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(9) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

I remember a few years ago I made reference to Christians as a rag-tag army on an extended march toward heaven. I later learned I offended two people. One person told me she was offended because I referred to her as dressing in rags. The other person was offended because I made reference to Christians as an army, “How can we be peacemakers and at the same time be a war machine,” was his comment.

I tried to explain to the woman I wasn’t referring to the way she was dressed I was trying to point out that life had taken its toll on some of us. I tried using the struggles she had when her husband died as an example. However, I don’t think I succeeded in explaining myself.

The reference I made about Christians being an army was a little more difficult to explain because the man was right. While I don’t believe peace can be forced I do believe that experiencing peace is one of the greatest struggles we’ll ever undertake. I pointed out what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12 ESV)

While I see myself as a peacemaker, I also see myself as a warrior not because I struggle with the evil forces in the world (Jesus beat the life out of them long ago) but because I continue to battle with myself and the pull of my EGO. That is why the Psalms are so important to me after all Paul called them, “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” (Ephesians 6:17 ESV)

For me today’s Golden Nugget is: “Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” What’s yours?

Grace and PEACE!
Gary

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God, make a fresh start in me,
Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
(Psalms 51:10 MSG)

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“Scriptures marked MSG have been taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.”

Scripture quotations marked ESV "Are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."