Psalm - Psalm 11

Psalm 11:7For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

The Lord ·does what is right [is righteous], and he loves ·justice [righteousness], so ·honest people [the upright/virtuous] will see his face. Psalm 11:7 (EXB) 

The Eternal is right in all His ways; He cherishes all that is upright. Those who do what is right in His eyes will see His face. Psalm 11:7 (VOICE) 

For righteous [is] Jehovah, Righteousness He hath loved, The upright doth His countenance see!' Psalm 11:7 (YLT)

For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness - This would be more correctly rendered, "For Jehovah is righteous; he loves righteousness." The idea is, that God is himself righteous, and, consequently, he loves those who are righteous. He may be confided in, therefore, by the righteous as their friend, and being under his protection they have nothing to fear. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If you look at my social media accounts, you can see some of my interests. I have followers and follow racing fans; Military and First Responders and Organizations and companies helping our Heroes; and Christian organizations, bloggers, among others. Those are people/organizations that are “like-minded”. 

As I read Psalm 11:7 this morning, I had to stop and consider the concept that God is Himself righteous and He loves those who are righteous. Now, on my own, I cannot nor could I ever reach God’s righteousness. But because of His grace and mercy, I am made righteous.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death. Philippians 3:8-10 (NLT)

I can’t reach righteousness on my own, but I can choose righteousness. If I love God, I want to be like-minded and love what He loves, I need to make sure that each and every day, I’m making the choice to obey God. If God had a social media account, would He want to “follow” me? Because He is righteous, He loves those who are righteous. 

Psalm 11 - A Righteous God loves Righteousness

Thanks Living: The A's Have It!

I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7:17

Praise: give thanks

According to His righteousness: of God's attribute as sovereign

Sing praise: to celebrate in song and music

Name: as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

Most High: the Supreme

As a result, I will thank the Eternal for His justice and sing praises in honor of the Eternal, Most High. Psalm 7:17 (VOICE) 

I thank Jehovah, According to His righteousness, And praise the name of Jehovah Most High! Psalm 7:17 (YLT)

PRAISE: 

noun: the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.

verb (used with object), praised, praising: to express approval or admiration of; commend. extol.

Idioms: sing someone's praises, to praise someone publicly and enthusiastically.

(Dictionary.com)

acclaim: noun. expression of approval

admire: verb. hold in high regard, great respect

applaud: verb. clap for; express approval

appreciate: verb. value highly

(Thesaurus.com)

I will give thanks, acclaim, admire, applaud and appreciate the Lord—not for anything I have done—But according to HIS Righteousness. And as I give thanks to Him, my soul will celebrate in song in honor and respect to the Supreme and only God! That is true Thanks Living! 

The A's Have It! Express approval, holding in high regard and expressing approval and appreciating God's righteousness—Thanks Living!

Proverbs 10:2, 3: Fully Satisfied—"Full of God"!

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked. Proverbs 10:2, 3

Treasures: storehouse, food, drink

Wickedness: as violence and crime against civil law

Profit: to be valuable, beneficial

Nothing: no, none

Righteousness: as ethically right

Delivers: escape

Death: place or state, ruin

Famish: be hungry

Casts away: reject, expel

Desire: eagerly coveting (by implication) calamity, iniquity, mischief

Wicked: guilty of sin, against either God or man

The Lord will not allow! And that is a promise from the One who is actually in charge and has the power to put into action anything necessary to accomplish His promise. 

The Lord will not allow! What won't He allow? The righteous soul to famish. What does that mean? 

The righteous, ethically right, those listening to and obeying wisdom. Soul: a breathing creature, being, passion. Famish, be hungry wanting. The person will be fully satisfied—"full of God"—listening to and obeying wisdom! 

Those who are listening to and obeying wisdom will not be left wanting. Does that mean I'll have a million dollars to do with as I please? Only if God knows that you need a million dollars to carry out His will. The thing about listening to and obeying wisdom, is that one's wants and desires change to those of God's. For it's not about just getting stuff, rather it's about living a life that is in accordance or harmony with God and His plan. And it's knowing that God will supply everything necessary to accomplish His will. 

Oh, having a million dollars would be nice! But a million dollars can't buy the peace and contentment that comes from having a heart that is fully satisfied—"full of God". And that fullness begins when a heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). 

The Lord will not allow! Choosing wisdom will keep you fully satisfied—"full of God"!

Paid in Full

If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my study of Philemon.    

And if he has done you any wrong in any way or owes anything [to you], charge that to my account. Philemon 1:18 (AMP)

Paul was telling Philemon, "I will pay Onesimus' debt IN FULL." Why would Paul be willing to do that? 

Reason 1: Because that is what God did for him (us). There can never be a way for us to pay for our sin. We are born sinners. And sinners cannot enter the presence of a Holy God. Yet, God in His gracious mercy, provided a way for ALL our Sin to be forgiven. Jesus Christ died in our place, and EACH and EVERY sin was placed upon Him.  (For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJ)

Reason 2: Because Onesimus was now a fellow Christian and was helping Paul in a great way. Onesimus knew that he needed to return to Philemon, and set things right. Paul saw Onesimus' heart of submission and willingness to do the right and godly thing.

Reason 3: Paul, didn't want there to be any reason for Philemon not to accept Onesimus back. Paul wanted Onesimus to begin with a clean slate. No past debt, rather a new beginning. 

When my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), I then begin to fully understand what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross. Having my debt paid in full should make me forever grateful to God and I should be willing to do all I can for Him. "Should" — sadly, I fall short on both those accounts. However, God in His love, provides grace and mercy on a continual basis—for that I am very thankful! 

Debt is paid in full. That provides freedom to live, not randomly, but rather with a sincere and godly purpose—because my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence and apparition for God. 

A Lingering Stench

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 11. Here is what I learned.

For the Lord is [rigidly] righteous, He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face, or He beholds the upright. Psalm 11:7 (AMP)

God’s business is putting things right; he loves getting the lines straight, Setting us straight. Once we’re standing tall, we can look him straight in the eye. Psalm 11:7 (MSG)

That God may give grace without glory is intelligible; but to admit a man to communion with him in glory without grace, is not intelligible. It is not agreeable to God's holiness to make any inhabitant of heaven, and converse freely with him in a way of intimate love, without such a qualification of grace: "The righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright; he looks upon him with a smiling eye, and therefore he cannot favourably look upon an unrighteous person; so that this necessity is not founded only in the command of God that we should be renewed, but in the very nature of the thing, because God, in regard of his holiness, cannot converse with an impure creature. God must change his nature, or the sinner's nature must be changed. There can be no friendly communion between two of different natures without the change of one of them into the likeness of the other. Wolves and sheep, darkness and light, can never agree. God cannot love a sinner as a sinner, because he hates impurity by a necessity of nature as well as a choice of will. It is as impossible for him to love it as to cease to be holy. Stephen Charnock

I was watching the skunks play outside last night. They are cute little things. Scampering around playing tag with each other. They made me laugh. However a short time later, my apartment was filled with the stench of skunk! Something had scared the little guys and they sprayed.. it was so strong it stung my eyes. At that point and time, I did not think the skunks were so cute. 

As God watches me go about my day do I please Him? Does enjoy watching what I’m doing? Or does His smile turn to disgust as I choose sin? Every action, every thought, every word, every attitude is a choice. I have the choice to choose righteousness or I have the choice to choose sin. 

Thankfully, God is gracious and merciful and a forgiving God. The stench of sin can only be removed by accepting His forgiveness. 

To create a positive day, I need to choose God’s righteousness so that I can look Him straight in the eye-for the only other option is choosing sin—which simply produces a lingering stench.

Like-Minded

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 11. Here is what I learned.

The Lord ·does what is right [is righteous], and he loves ·justice [righteousness], so ·honest people [the upright/virtuous] will see his face. Psalm 11:7 (EXB)

The Eternal is right in all His ways; He cherishes all that is upright. Those who do what is right in His eyes will see His face. Psalm 11:7 (VOICE)

For righteous [is] Jehovah, Righteousness He hath loved, The upright doth His countenance see!' Psalm 11:7 (YLT)

For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness - This would be more correctly rendered, "For Jehovah is righteous; he loves righteousness." The idea is, that God is himself righteous, and, consequently, he loves those who are righteous. He may be confided in, therefore, by the righteous as their friend, and being under his protection they have nothing to fear. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If you look at my twitter account, you can see some of my interests. I have followers and follow racing fans; Military and First Responders and Organizations and companies helping our Heroes;  football teams and players, and fans of football; and Christian organizations, bloggers. Those are people/organizations that are “like-minded”. 

As I read Psalm 11:7 this morning, I had to stop and consider the concept that God is Himself righteous and He loves those who are righteous. Now, on my own, I can nor could I ever reach God’s righteousness. But because of His grace and mercy, I am made righteous.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[a] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death. Philippians 3:8-10 (NLT)

I can’t reach righteousness on my own, but I can choose righteousness. If I love God, I want to be like-minded and love what He loves, I need to make sure that each and every day, I’m making the choice to obey God. If God had a twitter account, would He want to “follow” me? Because He is righteous, He loves those who are righteous. 

To create a positive day, I need to be “like-minded” with God, and choose righteousness.

God Hears

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Second of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 4. Here's what Treasure I found today. 

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have freed me from my troubles. Have pity on me, and hear my prayer! Psalm 4:1 (God’s Word)

Answer me when I call, O my God Who is right and good! You have made a way for me when I needed help. Be kind to me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1 (New Life Version)

It’s a treasure to know that I can call upon God... who is righteous.

God of my righteousness - Whatever pardon, peace, holiness, or truth I possess, has come entirely from thyself. Thou art the God of my salvation, as thou art the God of my life. (Clark’s Commentary)

God is the deliverer from troubles. When feeling confined and need a way to escape, God will provide that way. And this is not based upon me or what I have done, rather based upon God’s righteousness.

At times, I don’t “feel” like I’ve been “delivered”.. what then? I think it goes to a change of attitude and understanding. Remember, this is about GOD and WHO HE IS. It’s about His plan and what He wants to accomplish. 

This makes me think of Joseph. He was put into a pit, sold into slavery by his brothers, endured false imprisonment for at LEAST 2 years... but all the while... God was with Him. God’s plan for Joseph was about providing for His people. 

Jacob’s sons [The patriarchs] became jealous of Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and ·saved [rescued; delivered] him from all his ·troubles [afflictions]. God gave Joseph ·wisdom to gain the favor of [favor and wisdom before] Pharaoh, king of Egypt. The king made him governor of Egypt and put him in charge of ·all the people in his palace [his whole household]. Acts 7:9-10 (EXB)

The truth is that God, because of His grace and mercy, does hear my prayer for help. He is kind to me and will answer my prayer.....but in His ultimate loving way. And that truth is why, no matter my circumstance, I can enjoy a positive day!