"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands." (Psalms 90:17)
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us - The wish is clearly that all that there
is, in the divine character, which is "beautiful," which is suited to win the
hearts of people to admiration, gratitude, and love - might be so manifested to
them, or that they might so see the excellency of his character, and that his
dealings with them might be such, as to keep the beauty, the loveliness, of that
character constantly before them.
And establish thou the work of our hands upon us - What we are endeavoring to
do. Enable us to carry out our plans, and to accomplish our purposes.
Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it - The repetition of the prayer
here is emphatic. It indicates an intense desire that God would enable them to
carry out their plans. If this was written by Moses, we may suppose that it is
expressive of an earnest desire that they might reach the promised land; that
they might not all be cut down and perish by the way; that the great object of
their march through the wilderness might be accomplished; and that they might be
permanently established in the land to which they were going. At the same time
it is a prayer which it is proper to offer at any time, that God would enable us
to carry out our purposes, and that we may be permanently established in his
favor.
Sowing in Abundance....Paying Forward
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Monday, April 15, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Do Not Love The World
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." (1 John 2:15)
Many things in the world seem desirable and we are yearning to possess them. They may not be necessary bad as they can be used for purposes which God intended them to be for His Glory. However, believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them.
The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature:
1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures.
2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness.
3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause.
The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it.
Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng
Many things in the world seem desirable and we are yearning to possess them. They may not be necessary bad as they can be used for purposes which God intended them to be for His Glory. However, believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them.
The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature:
1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures.
2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness.
3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause.
The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it.
Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Caesar Versus God
"Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
They say unto him, Caesars - The image was the head of the emperor; the superscription, his titles. Julius Caesar was the first who caused his image to be struck on the Roman coin. Tiberius was emperor at this time.
Render therefore unto Caesar - The conclusion is drawn from their own premises. You acknowledge this to be Caesar's coin; this coin is current, in your land; the currency of this coin shows the country to be under the Roman government; and your acknowledgment that it is Caesar's proves you have submitted. Don't therefore be unjust; but render to Caesar the things which you acknowledge to be his; at the same time, be not impious, but render unto God the thing's which belong to God.
This answer is full of consummate wisdom. It establishes the limits, regulates the rights, and distinguishes the jurisdiction of the two empires of heaven and earth. The image of princes stamped on their coin denotes that temporal things belong all to their government. The image of God stamped on the soul denotes that all its faculties and powers belong to the Most High, and should be employed in his service.
But remember, if Caesar should intrude into the things of God, coin a new creed, or broach a new Gospel, and affect to rule the conscience, while he rules the state, in these things Caesar is not to be obeyed; he is taking the things of God, and he must not get them. Give not therefore God's things to Caesar, and give not Caesar's things to God.
Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
They say unto him, Caesars - The image was the head of the emperor; the superscription, his titles. Julius Caesar was the first who caused his image to be struck on the Roman coin. Tiberius was emperor at this time.
Render therefore unto Caesar - The conclusion is drawn from their own premises. You acknowledge this to be Caesar's coin; this coin is current, in your land; the currency of this coin shows the country to be under the Roman government; and your acknowledgment that it is Caesar's proves you have submitted. Don't therefore be unjust; but render to Caesar the things which you acknowledge to be his; at the same time, be not impious, but render unto God the thing's which belong to God.
This answer is full of consummate wisdom. It establishes the limits, regulates the rights, and distinguishes the jurisdiction of the two empires of heaven and earth. The image of princes stamped on their coin denotes that temporal things belong all to their government. The image of God stamped on the soul denotes that all its faculties and powers belong to the Most High, and should be employed in his service.
But remember, if Caesar should intrude into the things of God, coin a new creed, or broach a new Gospel, and affect to rule the conscience, while he rules the state, in these things Caesar is not to be obeyed; he is taking the things of God, and he must not get them. Give not therefore God's things to Caesar, and give not Caesar's things to God.
Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng
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