Missions of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Thankful Praise

Psalm 73:1 
 

To ask for something is seldom difficult, especially when the need is great and the desire is strong. But to give thanks so often is hard to do and easily forgotten, because the thrill of enjoying what we have gotten overwhelms us. We will not easily forget to ask; but to give thanks is quite a different matter.

It is no wonder then that we are so lacking in praise and thanksgiving to God. When rain becomes a desperate need, churches will set aside a day to pray for it. But do they set aside days during the week to praise and thank God for all He bestows upon us? The nation sets aside a day of thanksgiving for crops and prosperity. Do the churches set aside days to thank God for His mercy, love, and grace, for salvation and all its benefits? Do we take time in the day, and do our prayers express praise and thanksgiving? Or are our prayers mere requests?

Follow in the footsteps of Asaph after he had gone to God's house and understood the goodness of God. He had found it so easy to complain and to accuse God at least in his thoughts — of unfaithfulness. But when he understood God's works, after going to His sanctuary, he praised God with those words, "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart'' Psalm 73:1 . And well may we sing that versification of this Psalm that contains this beautiful chorus (PRC Psalter):

    My God, I will extol Thee 
    And ever bless Thy name;                                            
    Each day will I give thanks to Thee
    And all Thy praise proclaim.

Do that today. Pray for blessings, for they are promised by God in His goodness.  But thank Him for sending His Son so that showers of blessings may fall upon us. Live in the shadow of the cross, and because of it cry out of the goodness of God to His people. Too often our prayers are complaints. Not often enough are they praise. Yet because of all His goodness, we have even reason to praise Him by thanking Him as the God of our salvation.

Read: Psalm 113 
Psalter versification: Chorus of #202

Daily  Meditations  on the Heidelberg Catechism

Song for Meditation: Psalter #179
Why not sing along??

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

Genesis 11 ; Genesis 12 ; Genesis 13:1-4 
Matthew 5:1-26 
Psalm 5:1-12 
Proverbs 1:24-28 
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Quote for Reflection:

"It is with regard to men that God is said to reign, when he exalts himself by the magnificent displays which he gives of his power; because, while the aid which he gives to them remains invisible, unbelievers act a more presumptuous part, just as if there were no God."     John Calvin

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Living Close to God

Psalm 73:1

 One truth we must hold on to with both hands and never let go. With Asaph we must say, "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart," Psalm 73:1 . That truth we must take with us wherever we go and no matter what happens to us. Come what may, God is good to His people. And a clean heart is not vain; nor are hands washed in the blood of Christ worthless.

Cleansing our hearts and fighting against sin, washing our hands and believing that our sins have been blotted out by the blood of Christ reveals the goodness of God. In His goodness He causes us to believe. It is in His goodness that we receive His Spirit Who enables us to fight against the sin that still resides in our flesh.

Let not the prosperity of the wicked deceive you. Think not that God is good to those whose hearts beat only with the love of sin, and who have no interest in the forgiveness of sins, just because you see their eyes stand out with fatness, and they have more of this earth's goods than the believers. Let not their pleasure-filled lives and prosperity make you judge God to be unfaithful to His promises to His church. Be sure, as we approach the end of time, with its greater persecution and deprivations, that God has not forgotten us and is not blessing our enemies.

Be sure that you see things correctly. Therefore, do as Asaph did, go to God's house. Draw nigh to Him where He reveals to us that the ''victory'' of His Son's enemies, when they crucified Him, actually was the victory for the church over sin and death; and that He is always working all things together for good to those that love Him.

Our trust in God grows stronger or weaker in the measure that we do or do not draw nigh to Him. Our faith must be fed to grow, and its food is the Word of God. Therein you will see of the wicked that surely He "set them in slippery places'' Psalm 73:18 . Then you can sing (PRC Psalter):

    To live apart from God is death.
    'Tis good His face to seek; 
    My refuge is the living God, 
    His praise I long to speak.

Read: Psalm 84
Psalter versification: #203:5

Daily  Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Song for Meditation: Psalter #202
Why not sing along??

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

Genesis 8 ; Genesis 9 ; Genesis 10 
Matthew 4:12-25 
Psalm 4:1-8 
Proverbs 1:20-23 
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Quote for Reflection:

 There is, however, one thing more which we ought to note well in St. Paul's saying that Christ must dwell in our hearts. For many men have him in their mouth, and even also in their brain, as they hear him, and they think they acquit themselves well when they can prattle about him, but in the meanwhile there is no living root in them. It is not enough then to have some vague knowledge of Christ, or to engage in airy speculations, as they say, and to be able to talk a lot about him, but he must have his seat in our hearts within, so that we are unfeignedly joined to him, and with true affection. —John Calvin, Sermons on Ephesians, (Ephesians 3:14-19 ), p. 291

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A Perfect Guide

Psalm 73:25 
 

Do you think that you know what is best for you today'? Would you like to have the universe in your hands to control and use all that is in it for your fleshly advantage?

Let me urge you to forget it. The universe could not be in better hands than it is and has always been. Not only has the God of our salvation complete control of every molecule and atom of creation, so that He can move and remove them as it pleases Him, but He knows and reads the hearts and minds of every rational, moral creature. Yes, He knows what the devil is thinking at any given moment. He knows his plans and where he and his helpers are, and what they are trying to do.

All this He does not learn but knows because eternally He planned it all. All that every creature in heaven and on earth rational and irrational, animate and inanimate does, He eternally decreed. What is going to happen today — in every split-second thereof —He determined and will execute on time, in the right place and in the exact way that He decreed.

Could you then want a better guide through this valley wherein the shadow of death is cast? Should we not say with Asaph (PRC Psalter):

    Whom have I, Lord, in heav'n but Thee,
    To Whom my thoughts aspire?
    And having Thee on earth is naught
    That I can yet desire.

In the Scriptures it reads like this: ''Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I can desire beside Thee,Psalm 73:25.

Indeed, the cross was no mistake, even though it looked that way when it took place. And what happens today may look as though "clean hands are worthless and pure hearts are vain,'' but they are not. He Who designed that cross did so in love for all His people, as we can now see. But look at all that happens in your life, it is designed by that same in fallible Guide. He will guide your steps so that you do arrive in His glory. On earth we cannot find a more loving and perfect Guide.
 

Read: Psalm 48 
Psalter versification: #203:3

Daily  Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Song for Meditation: Psalter #14
Why not sing along??

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

Genesis 5 ; Genesis 6 ; Genesis 7 
Matthew 3:7-17 ; Matthew 4:1-11 
Psalm 3:1-8 
Proverbs 1:10-19 
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Quote for Reflection:

"Christ did not die for any upon condition, if they do believe; but he died for all God's elect, that they should believe, and believing have eternal life. Faith itself is among the principal effects and fruits of the death of Christ; as shall be declared. It is nowhere said in Scripture, nor can it reasonably be affirmed, that if we believe, Christ died for us, as though our believing should make that to be which otherwise was not, - the act create the object; but Christ died for us that we might believe." —John Owen

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Polished in Tender Mercy

  Psalm 73:23

What do you have planned for today? It may or may not take place. It all depends on what the all-wise God of all mercy has planned in His eternal, unchangeable counsel. And that counsel is not a dead blueprint but a living plan that He eternally has in mind and that is constantly before His consciousness.

All in that counsel is designed to realize the day when the kingdom of Christ is established upon the new earth and God is all in all. Then the church of Christ is crowned with the glory that He now has at God's right hand. And the exact measure of glory, as well as the exact way it will be realized for each individual believer, and the exact moment of his entrance into it with his soul is all unchangeably decreed in that counsel or living plan.

Asaph did not see that before he wrote Psalm 73. He envied the wicked in their earthly prosperity. His own poverty, afflictions, and difficulties made him question God's love and tender mercy for him. He could not see how the rough road on which he was traveling could lead to heavenly glory. He wanted earthly glory as an evidence of coming heavenly glory. Being chastened every morning and plagued all the day long he could not see that "God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart" Psalm 73:1. Later on he did see this and began his psalm with those words. But for a time he questioned where the days of his years were bringing him. It seemed useless to walk in God's law and to have faith in His covenant faithfulness.

Do not borrow his unbelief today or ever in the future when the going is rough. Instead, take hold of his words after God caused him to see the light. In Psalm 73:23 he writes, 'Nevertheless I am continually with Thee. Thou hast holden me by my right hand." This is versified beautifully in the words (PRC Psalter):

In doubt and temptation I rest Lord in Thee:
My hand is in Thy hand Thou carest for me.

Yes He does care for us in our afflictions. For with these He is polishing us and getting us ready for that heavenly glory in Christ.

 Read: Romans 8:18-39 
Psalter versification: #202:1

Daily  Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism


Song for Meditation: Psalter #411
Why not sing along??

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

Genesis 3 ; Genesis 2 ; Genesis 3 ; Genesis 4:1-26 
Matthew 2:13-25 ;   Genesis 3:1-6 
Psalm 2:1-12 
Proverbs 1:7-9 
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Quote for Reflection:

"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man would stake his life on it a thousand times . . . O, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith; and so it is impossible for it not to do good works incessantly." — Martin Luther, Romans’ Preface

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Glory at the End of the Road

Psalm 73:24 
 

What lies in store for us in the year we entered today we know only in broad, general terms. But we know not how long we will continue in this valley where the shadow of death is cast. For some, today will be the last day in this vale of tears. Others may be here for another week or month. Some of us will live through this whole year and beyond. And created as thinking, willing creatures we have faculties whereby we can and do plan, and whereby we judge whether what we desire to see happen this year is threatened by what takes place round about us.

The big question, however, is not whether the wishes of our flesh will be fulfilled. The all-controlling question is not what the year will bring to us, but where the year will bring us. And the Word of God contains such comfort for the child of God, because it not only tells us where we are going, but also assures us that all that which the year brings us will, without one exception, bring us to the glory of the kingdom of God's dear Son. For the psalmist declares in Psalm 73:24, "Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory."

Take that truth with you today and every day throughout the years of your life. The all-wise and almighty God has the glory, of those whom He purchased by the blood of His Son, planned to the smallest detail. If you belong to that innumerable host that He gave to His Son, you will find heavenly glory at the end of the road you now travel on this earth.

Sing then that truth of Psalm 73:24 as versified with these words (PRC Psalter):

    My soul with Thy counsel
    Through life Thou wilt guide,
    And afterward make me in glory abide.

Sing it as soon as you wake up in the morning and face a new day. Sing it no matter what the day may bring you.  For all that happens is bringing you to the glory Christ Himself now has and has purchased for His people.

Read: Psalm 73 
Psalter versification #202:1

Daily  Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism


Song for Meditation: Psalter #58
Why not sing along??

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

Genesis 1 ; Genesis 2:1-25 
Matthew 1 ; Matthew 2:1-12 
Psalm 1:1-6 
Proverbs 1:1-6 
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Quote for Reflection:

Our Hope for the New Year:  “…Let the dawn of the first day of the year find us on our knees, humbly seeking the face of Him who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Not to ask Him for things He will never give.  Not to seek the things that are on the earth.  But to leave all things to Him, if only we may be assured of His everlasting mercy. Then all will be well!  “Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psalm 33:22). ”  - Herman Hoeksema

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A Sure Salvation

Psalm 62:1

David's reason for trusting God for all his salvation is the fact that it all comes from God. So he states it in Psalm 62:1, in these words: "Truly my soul waits upon God; from Him cometh my salvation."

Surely the most important gift bestowed upon man, since the fall of Adam, is salvation. Rain and sunshine, food and drink, health and life are valuable gifts man receives from God. But these all men receive to a degree in God's providence. Salvation, however, brings us to an everlasting life that contains the richest and most blessed fellowship with God that the creature can enjoy. Salvation makes us children of God; and though we were created a little lower than the angels, we will be closer to God than they are now.

Sad to say, however, we are most of the time interested in earthly things. They come first in our minds rather than the blessings of salvation. And we do not see and use them as means wherewith to serve God. But if we are going to appreciate David's words, we must wait for Christ to bring us to holiness, and to a covenant life of fellowship with God that is higher than Adam knew before he fell.

That salvation is absolutely sure. For note that David calls God his Rock, his salvation, and his defense. As our Rock He is unmovable, and as our defense He is our mighty fortress and high tower. Once again, our versification has it thus (PRC Psalter):

    My soul in silence waits for God,
    My Savior He has proved;
    He only is my rock and tower:
    I never shall be moved.
    My honor is secure with God,
    My Savior He is known;
    My refuge and my rock of strength
    Are found in God alone.

Waves of men and evil spirits may assault us. Floods of enemies may sweep over us.  But, on waiting God all is well with us.  The forces that at attack us will be shattered as the waves of the sea are upon the rocks on the shore. Our salvation is sure, for the almighty, unchangeable God is our rock and our salvation. 

Read: Romans 8:22-39 
Psalter versification: #162:1

Daily  Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Song for Meditation: Psalter #382
Why not sing along??

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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

Leviticus 25:47-55 ; Leviticus 26 ; Leviticus 27:1-13 
Mark 10:32-52 
Psalm 45:1-17 
Proverbs 10:22 
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Quote for Reflection:

"… If, therefore, we are disposed to avoid every kind of contentions and fighting, let us learn, first, to moderate many things by gentleness, and next to bear with many things; for they who are excessively severe and ill-tempered carry with them a fire to kindle strife." -- John Calvin

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