How often have we declared, “God is good?” Even though we know He is good, we do not fully comprehend the depth of that truth. As our Creator, He knew that we would fall short of His will and glory; therefore, He gave us a conscience. Our conscience gives us the inner ability to tell right from wrong and makes us aware that we are sinners in need of His saving grace. Consider the children of Israel; they knew that God was good. Still, they willfully committed idolatry by making and worshipping the golden calf and committing other ungodly acts, breaking God’s covenant (Exodus 32). Is not that just like us, quick to forget all God has done for us? Israel had been delivered out of bondage and miraculously brought through the Red Sea on dry land. Yet in the absence of Moses, they reverted to their old ways. Jesus gave His life on the cross that we might be delivered from the grip of Satan – from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive. Like Israel, children of God have become impatient while waiting for Jesus’ return and are guilty of backsliding to their old ways.

In Exodus 32 God was very angry with Israel for rejecting Him and would have destroyed them if Moses had not pleaded for Him to have mercy on them. He reminded God that these are “Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand” (v.11). In verse 12 Moses pleaded with God to turn from His fierce anger and not be so harsh with His people. He pleaded for God to not allow the Egyptians to speak evil of Him, saying that He brought these people out of Egypt to destroy them. Finally, (v.13) Moses called God to remember the promises He had made to their forefathers – multiply their descendants as the stars of heaven and give them Canaan as an eternal inheritance. So, the Lord relented from destroying His people (v.14).

Let Moses’ intercession with God be an example for us. Use God’s words. Give Him praise! 

John 16:7-11

During Jesus’ discourse on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, He told His disciples many things, including the promise of the Comforter. In the previous verses of this chapter (vv. 1-6), He told them that they would be persecuted and why and that He was now going His way to the One that sent Him. 

He told them, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth.” He promised them it was to their advantage for Him to go away. If He did not go away, the Helper would not come to them; if He went away, He would send them the Helper (v.7). Is it not a powerful truth that the Son of God – God in the flesh – was with them, yet dying on the cross was to their advantage? Jesus went on to say that when the Helper – the Holy Spirit – comes, He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (v.8). That is, the Holy Spirit’s work in the world will be three-fold. He will convict, or expose, sinners because they do not believe in Him (v.9).

He told them, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth.” He promised them it was to their advantage for Him to go away. If He did not go away, the Helper would not come to them; if He went away, He would send them the Helper (v.7). Is it not a powerful truth that the Son of God – God in the flesh – was with them, yet dying on the cross was to their advantage? Jesus went on to say that when the Helper – the Holy Spirit – comes, He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (v.8). That is, the Holy Spirit’s work in the world will be three-fold. He will convict, or expose, sinners because they do not believe in Him (v.9). He will also convict them of righteousness because He will go to His Father, and they will see Him no more (v.10). Man’s righteousness cannot save him. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ and the work He did on the cross. Thirdly, Jesus told them that the Holy Spirit will convict them of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged. The ruler of this world is Satan. All who choose to reject Christ will not escape eternal damnation with Satan (John 3:36; Acts 17:31, NKJV).

Today accept the truth. It was necessary for Jesus to return to His Father on our behalf after dying on the cross.

Give God glory!

 

 

Our month-long celebration of African-American history is the fruit of Carter G. Woodson’s effort, calling for the first one-week observance in 1926. He wrote, “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”

Every people have traditions, and food is a major part of ours. Not only does everyone need food, but we enjoy it too. In the African-American or Black community whatever the occasion, food is there; fellowship and food go hand-in-hand. Ecclesiastes 9:7 says that we are to eat food with gladness, and drink our wine with a merry heart… There is so much diversity that we never know what might be served up on the menu at any given time. Let us not forget there is variety in preparation: fried, baked, boiled, grilled, canned, specialty preparations, stewed, and more. Due to the African-American historical experience, many of our traditional dishes may have been based on how food was prepared in Africa, on many of the islands, and of Native Americans. Bless God every day for the provision of food:

God is great.

God is good.

Let us thank Him for our food.

By His hands we all are fed.

Give us Lord, our daily bread.

Give us Lord, our daily bread.

Amen.

Joshua‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭MSG‬‬

““Now, stay strong and steady. Obediently do everything written in the Book of The Revelation of Moses—don’t miss a detail. Don’t get mixed up with the nations that are still around. Don’t so much as speak the names of their gods or swear by them. And by all means don’t worship or pray to them. Hold tight to God, your God, just as you’ve done up to now.”

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.