Lamentations 3:22b-23a

“[For the LORD’S] compassions never fail. They are new every morning.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“[For the LORD’S] compassions (checed: kindness, goodness, favor, mercies) never fail (kalah: end, finish, accomplish, cease). They are new (chadash: fresh) every morning (boqer: break of day, coming of daylight).”

SUMMARY

The compassions, kindness, goodness, favor and mercies of the Lord never fail. They are fresh and new at the breaking daylight of every morning.

MEDITATION

This verse should have us all doing cartwheels across our bedroom floors as we arise in the morning to start each day. The Lord, full of compassion and mercy has given us hope for each new day and that hope is His lovingkindess. I’ve always wrestled with the issue of dragging my yesterdays into my todays. For many, many years I would not approach God “today” because of my “yesterday”. I had failed to understand that here, in the now of a new day, the compassions of my Father were beckoning me unto Him. So today, is there anything in your past that is spoiling your present, spiritually? Arise and shine for today is a new day! Rejoice and breathe in the fresh goodness of the Lord! 

Ephesians 5:15

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Therefore be careful (akribos: diligent, accurate) how you walk (peripateo: be occupied, make one's way, progress, live one's life, conduct one's self), not as unwise (asophos: foolish) men but as wise (sophos: skilled, expert, learned).”

SUMMARY

Be careful, diligent and accurate how you make your way and conduct yourself, not as a foolish man but as a skilled and wise man.

MEDITATION

In this letter we find Paul urging the Ephesians to be imitators of God and to abstain from immorality. He tells them to be on their guard against the deeds of darkness and to be careful to not be deceived by empty words. In today’s verse we’re instructed to be vigilant and accurate with our decisions as we go about our daily routines of life. What are we occupied with? Do we conduct ourselves with the constant remembrance that we’re Christ’s representatives upon this earth? As we mature in the natural, we must mature in the spiritual. We need to cultivate our spiritual life and become skilled in conducting ourselves in a way that is pleasing to the Father. Today, are you making deliberate decisions to be careful how you walk throughout this life?

Exodus 17:15

 “Moses built an altar and named it ‘Jehovahnissi’ (Translated, ‘The Lord is My Banner’)".

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Moses built (banah: set up, established) an altar and named (qara’: called out, proclaimed aloud, commissioned) it ‘Jehovahnissi’ (translated, ‘The Lord is My Banner’)".

SUMMARY

Moses set up and established an altar and proclaimed aloud that “The Lord is my Banner!”

MEDITATION

In an age where denominations, political parties, sects and isolated groups run rampant within the Body of Christ, how desperately do we need to hear this simple proclamation by Moses? The Body of Christ must understand that our banner (what we raise up and look to in order to identify ourselves) must be the Lord alone! Not where we attend religious gatherings or what class of people we choose to hang out with. Not what religious flavor we ascribe to or the latest faith movement that we embrace. Not our doctrinal stance on moral and national issues. Not our personal accomplishments and successes. First and foremost our banner, our absolute defining quality must be that we’re united in spirit with the Lord as our banner! All else should easily, without competition, fall well beneath the elevated banner that is Jehovahnissi! Arise Church and hoist the only banner you were called to raise!

1 Corinthians 13:4

“Love is patient....” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Love (agape: agape: charity, brotherly love, affection, good will, benevolence) is patient (makrothumeo: bears long, suffers long, patiently enduring, perseveres patiently, enduring misfortunes and troubles; patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; mild and slow in avenging, slow to anger, slow to punish) ....”

SUMMARY

The charity and benevolence that originates from the Father bears long, endures much, is patient, mild and slow to punish in anger.

MEDITATION

I’ve been given a healthy dose of opportunities to show the agape of my Father lately. I have a one month old son! He cries for no reason, he chooses when he sleeps (when we sleep) and can, at times, push my buttons like no one else has… ever. With that being said, my love for him is like no other as well. He’s not earned it, worked for it or sought to make me love him, he just is. It’s his simple existence as my son that leads me to love him patiently. Is this not the same as our Father? I often think He must look at me in the same manner. Sometimes I’m completely oblivious to what He’s trying to give me – something that I need. At times I may even kick and scream and push Him away. Oh but the love of the Father! He patiently waits, enduring my obstinate nature, longing to come to me and hold me close. His awesome love never turns me away. Today, I want to ask you, do you know of this great, unconditional love? Have you experienced the love that overlooks all wrongs, errors and sees beyond the annoyances of humanity? If you have – if you truly have – then you’re obligated to spread this great agape of God to others. Love someone today, without condition, expectation or demands. It’s the heart of our loving and patient Creator.

Numbers 11:4-6

“The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.’” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“The rabble ('acpecuph: mixed multitude, collection of people) who were among them had greedy desires ('avah: lusts, longings, cravings); and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? We remember (zakar: mindful, think on, bring to remembrance, call to mind) the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.’”

SUMMARY

The collection of people who were among them had greedy lusts and cravings; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We choose to call to mind the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”

MEDITATION

I find it interesting that despite all that the Israelites saw the LORD do on their behalf, in this instance they chose to call to mind the cravings of their fleshly bodies. And who can blame them, right? They were growing weary of eating the same old manna as the days previous. The key here is that within these moments that we too have in common with these men and women, we choose to put on the mind of Christ. We must literally, “change” our mind. Today, choose to reflect on what the LORD has done on your behalf. Declare the awesome works of His hands and see how He’s caring for you…. even if it comes in the form of something you’re just, well, tired of “eating”.

Revelation 1:10

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard (akouo: hearken, give audience, hearer, not deaf, to attend to, consider what is or has been said, understand, perceive, comprehend) behind me a loud voice (phone [fo-nay']: sound, speech, tongue, a disclosure) like the sound of a trumpet.”

SUMMARY

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard and perceived behind me a loud voice disclosing things to me as the sound of a trumpet.

MEDITATION

When was the last time you were “in the spirit”? (I’ll pause and let you think about it.) OK. As Believers of this same Gospel as John the Revelator and fellow followers of Christ should we too not be found “in the spirit” on regular occasion? Sadly, flesh-fueled Christianity abounds in every corner of this modern day. Perhaps it’s safe to say that it always has. Most circles even go as far as viewing clearly biblical “spiritual activity” as inappropriate and shameful. For the Body of Christ to have any hope in this hour, we must individually hear what the Spirit is saying and move accordingly. Today, unplug from the sensory overload of the flesh. Exercise your spirit man. Who knows, you too may just hear a voice like the sound of a trumpet.

James 5:8

“You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“You too be patient (makrothumeo: endure, not to lose heart, persevere patiently and bravely; to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish); strengthen (sterizo: establish, make stable, make firm) your hearts (kardia: the center and seat of spiritual life; seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors), for the coming (parousia: arrival, advent; the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God) of the Lord is at hand (eggizo: draw nigh, be at hand, come near, approaching).”

SUMMARY

Don’t lose heart! Patiently persevere and establish your purpose and motivations for the visible return of Jesus Christ is fast approaching!

MEDITATION

Are you established in your motivations and purposes? Are you standing firm, unshakable no matter what comes? The day of the LORD is at hand. One does not train and prepare to avoid something but instead to face it head on. Be ready not to escape but to endure my friends for he that endures will be saved.