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More on how Jesus loves us!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 18, 2022
The Father loves the Son because God IS love; He can never not love. His love is “agape,” that is, it does not depend on the response of the loved one. Whatever we may do, God’s love will not stop flowing to us.
Now, here’s the point: as the Father loves the Son, so Jesus loves us!!! This is an astounding, beautiful, transforming and wonderful truth, too good to be true–and yet it is true for all believers. This is because Jesus has purchased us and given us His righteousness, His guiltless record and His holiness.
We can exult with John as he wrote in 1 John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
So, we don’t have to try and live off the love others give us; instead we can live out of the Love God always gives us, being confident in His acceptance, forgiveness and liking us!
 
Knowing who we are, a deeply loved child of God, gives us a sense of worth, security and purpose in life.
 
Knowing how much we are loved, we can love, forgive and like ourselves! And others. We can rest in His love, abide in His love and revel in His love because it is wide like this field, secure, eternal and wholehearted. It is not based on us but upon His unchanging, all powerful nature. We ARE the apple of His eye!]
 
May be an image of nature, tree and grass
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Psalm 17:8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 17, 2022
Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of your eye;”
[This, Lord God, is how you view each of your children, the object of your illogical, unbelievable love. To you we are special, unique, wonderful and dearly loved. By you we are delighted in, doted on and deeply cared for.
 
You chose us, you cleansed us from our sin and guilt, you called us into your arms, you claimed us as your children, you commissioned us to special service and you cherish us wholeheartedly with joy.
Jesus made an amazing statement in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” This is an astounding, ground-shaking, worldview-shifting announcement. If we grasp this in ongoing depth, it will change our whole lives, resulting in us “being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:16-19).
And how does God the Father love Jesus the Son?
He loves Him enthusiastically and Eternally,
wholeheartedly, willingly, widely,
without equivocation without reservation, without interruption,
without any doubts, without remorse,
joyfully, jubilantly and justly,
positively, purposefully and powerfully,
constantly, creatively and consistently,
warmly, wonderfully, wildly,
fully, forcefully and forever.
Most foundationally, the Father loves the Son because God IS love; He can never NOT love. His love is “agape,” that is, it does not depend on the response of the loved one. Whatever we may do, God’s love will not stop flowing to us.
 
In this truth we rest, O God, reveling, exalting in your rich, deep and immeasurable love. May we grasp this more deeply every day so our lives will be transformed.
May be an image of nature
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Psalm 17:7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 16, 2022
Psalm 17:7 “Show the wonder of your great love,
[Yours, Lord Jesus, is a love far richer and deeper, more committed than even David could know in his time. He was not able to see your great plan to move through immense suffering–spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and volitionally–which you were willing to endure because of you love for your rebellious creatures. To say your love is wonderful is a woefully inadequate statement! Praise you for your immeasurable, mighty, all-encompassing, all consuming compassion]
“you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”
[Your right hand, the hand of honor, is powerful and adequate to save us in any danger. You, Lord Jesus, are our sure Refuge, our high Tower, our mighty Rock, our righteous Redeemer and sufficient Savior who is every watching over us.
 
We must, however, run to you and take shelter in that refuge. We are called to partnership with you and need to actively join you so you can do your promised part.
I praise you, Lord God, that you, in your immense might, your persistent power, your notable knowledge of all and your pervasive presence, can never be defeated.
 
No one can trick you, fool you or get around you. Therefore, you are fully able to protect us, to bring us through whatever events you allow and bring us down your green path and out into the wide and pleasant place you have prepared, into the green pastures of your pleasure.
We praise you now for what you will do today in protecting us, preparing all for us and providing what we need. May we live in the light of this truth and rest in you, no matter what comes.]
May be an image of nature, tree and grass
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Psalm `17:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 15, 2022
 
Psalm 17:6 “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”
[Your faithfulness, Lord, is the impetus for prayer. You Will hear, you Will answer, you Will help–because it is your nature to be faithful!
 
As my wife says, you, Lord, have four possible answers to our prayers and always give us one of them. These possibilities are: yes, no, wait; or “Are you kidding?!!” I am so glad that you do not give a “yes” to some of the outrageous things I’ve asked for in the past. Praise you for you know all and answer in your wisdom.
We can be so certain of your answering, as your promise in the rainbow states, that in any circumstance we can give thanks before we see any sign of an answer. We can fully rest in you, we don’t have to panic, we don’t have to cling to our desired outcome, we don’t have to be afraid. We can, before an answer comes, know that you will faithfully do what is best. Your promise to hear and answer was David’s hope–and ours, too.]
May be an image of nature and sky
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Psalm 17:3-5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 14, 2022
Psalm 17:3 “Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing;”
[Here is a statement I find hard to understand. I cannot say this–only a slight probe in me will find a multitude of wrong in my motives, thoughts and actions. Perhaps David was speaking more of the fact that he has not responded incorrectly in his present situation; maybe he has forgiven and prayed for the good of his enemies. Perhaps he has already confessed his sin in the situation and now stands cleansed as far as he knows.]
“I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.”
[He’s not going to give a response of the flesh, but speak what he knows is pleasing to you, Lord. That hints at checking his motives, thinking through his possible responses and choosing to obey what he knows is right. May I live like that.]
Psalm 17:4 “As for the deeds of men—by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.”
[Perhaps here David, who was a man of war, is talking specifically of the instance before him where he did not respond to these people in violence (which he could have done), acting instead according your commands in grace and quietness. May I do the same!]
Psalm 17:5 “My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.”
[As David sought to obey, running in the paths prepared by you, Lord, he did not stumble or fall. It was only when he strayed from your path that he slipped, fell and took many others down with him.
Lord keep me on your path, surround me with your hedge of thorns, pricking me immediately when I zig or zag off your way so I can quickly repent and get back on your path. May I not slip today and thereby bring you honor.]
May be an image of lake, tree, nature, sky and twilight
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Psalm 17:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 13, 2022
Psalm 17:2 “May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.”
[Truly, vindication can only fully come from you, Lord, for only you know fully what is good. We can rest in that awesome truth that you see everything, both right and wrong, and love us anyway.
Your Word is clear on how we should trust you to deal with those who oppose us. As it says in the Old Testament, “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psa. 37:1-4).
This concept is repeated more powerfully in the New Testament: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.
 
“On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:19-21).
In the picture here, the beauty of these leaves was revealed by the recent frost. Likewise, the beauty of the Lord is revealed in us through difficulties, if we respond according to His Word.
Lord, help us to look to you for vindication and for dealing with those who treat us like their enemies. May our delight be in you, not in vengeance or winning. May you thusly be glorified before all those around us, especially before those who oppose us. And right now, I am in the midst of such a conflict with a renter who sees me as the enemy, so I must apply all this personally! I praise you for how you will answer in faithfulness and righteousness and bring vindication.]
Epilogue: as I asked, the Lord gave wisdom through Psalm 37 (do good) in how to do good to this renter who treated me as an enemy, and he straightened out.
May be an image of tree and nature
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Psalm 17:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 12, 2022
God calls us to make the choice to be holy because He himself is holy.
Psalm 17:1 “Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry.”
[You, Lord, are the prayer-answering God. Intercession was your invention, giving us a way to enter your presence, your arms, your heart, your plans.
You are the God who
–heard Joseph and gave him the interpretation of dreams;
–who heard Moses and opened the Red Sea;
–who heard David and defeated his enemies;
–who heard Daniel and told him the dream of the king;
–who heard Jesus and raised Lazarus from the dead.
–And you are the God who hears us still and will answer in the same faithfulness and power you always have.]
“Give ear to my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips.”
[Your part is to hear, ours is to come to you in integrity, not trying to manipulate you or paint ourselves as better than we are or trick you into moving against someone unjustly. To do any of these is, of course, ridiculous, for nothing is hidden from your eyes, including our motives. You are the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-present One.
Praise you that we can and must be totally transparent before you—and that such honesty does not negatively affect your openness to us one bit, “for you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon you” (Psalm 86:5).
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Psalm 16:11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 11, 2022
You, Lord Jesus, have given us three wonders for life right now:]
 
1) Psalm 16:11 “You have made known to me the path of life;”
 
[In your love and grace, your compassion and forgiveness, your Spirit has opened and continues to open my eyes to your way, so I can walk on the path, “of the righteous” which “is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever more brightly til the full light of day” (Prov 4:18).
 
And every day, as we walk on your way, we can give you glory and honor by responding to every situation with praise. To know you is wonderful!]
 
2) “you will fill me with joy in your presence,”
 
[Truly, know Jesus is enough for joy! The more we know you, the deeper our joy goes, overflowing, energizing, transforming and guiding. It is not our circumstances, but the certainty of your presence that is the well-spring of joy in our lives. And this will be multiplied a thousand-fold when we pass through death into eternal life. We praise you for it!]
 
3) “with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
 
[The certainty of spending eternity with you, Lord Jesus, at your right hand, enjoying the pleasure of your presence, the wonders of your being, the marvels of your new Heaven and new Earth–this is a prospect beyond comprehension. To have this certainty is a further aspect to our present joy.
 
Yes, Lord Jesus, to know you is enough for joy, a joy that will be ever increasing until death and then exploding into all the dimensions in which you now live, expanding throughout eternity as we learn more and more of your marvelous, infinite character. May I walk together with you in that joy this day, Lord Jesus, so that I can shine the light of your joy on all those I meet.
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Psalm 16:9-10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 10, 2022
Psalm 16:8b,9 “…he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;”
 
[You, Lord God, are the reason I can be glad and rejoice, for you are mightily faithful, lovingly good, totally wise and graciously giving.
 
There is no lack for those who follow you. “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Psa. 34:10). It is in you, in your character that all comes together, that all is provided, that all stability rests. It is SO right to rejoice in you!]
 
Psalm 16:10 “my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”
 
[This is a prophetical statement about you, Lord Jesus, written 1000 years before you were born. You died on the cross, but your body did not deteriorate; it was brought back to life and transformed into the new and eternal form our bodies will have.
 
Right now, we live in the land of the dying, but being in you we are also already in the Kingdom of the eternally living. As we live in this Truth, we walk in your light, understand who we are, where we are going and what our future is!
 
What a privilege in a world spinning out of control–but not out of God’s. He has a plan and we can trust Him in it.
 
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Psalm 16:8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 9, 2022
Psalm 16:8 “I have set the LORD always before me.”
[To my shame, I cannot say that I do this always, but certainly want to keep you at the center of my life, Lord Jesus, to acclaim you in every aspect, to have my heart open to your guidance at each juncture, to follow your leading constantly. Help me to do that consistently, Lord Jesus.]
“Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
[In contrast to me, you, Heavenly Father, are totally consistent, always faithful, unshakable. You have a detailed plan for me in each day and will carry me through it. You will never leave me; you are persistently there and will always give what is necessary in protection, guidance, wisdom and provision. So, there is no reason for me to be shaken, I only need to look to you, knowing that you will give beyond what I need. I can praise you in it ahead of time.]
Praise you, Lord, that as I go into this day, it is certain that you will be there, keeping me within the pleasant boundaries you have set to protect me, blessing me with your presence, giving me new vision to understand what is good and what is not.
I praise you for your great wisdom, your abundant love, your ever-flowing grace and your endless kindness. To you I lift up my voice of praise, to you I give my life anew. Glorify yourself today in all that will come, that those around may see your greatness and bow before you, too.]
May be an image of African daisy and nature
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