Scripture:
Psalm 1; John 15:1-11
Tue, 2 November 2021

Walk Faithfully in the Lord

Observation:

What similarities and contrasts did the Psalmist and Jesus highlight in the botanical images used in both passages?

Deeper Reflection

THE PSALMIST USED the image of a tree, while Jesus used vine branches. The Psalmist’s fruitful tree is planted by streams of water, whereas Jesus’ fruitful branches abides in Him. A healthy tree yields fruit in season and Jesus’ abiding branches bear much fruit. Chaff are blown away and dried-up branches are thrown away to be burnt. Streams of water represents God’s law − the source of nourishment, while the vine represents Jesus − the source of life. To be planted by streams of water is to delight in God’s law and to abide in the vine is to have Jesus’ words abide in us. God is the righteous Judge in both passages; to receive His judgment is to be removed from His presence and suffer destruction. Reward in the psalm is prosperity; in Jesus’ allegory, fullness of joy. God blesses the righteous, whose way of life He approves. What is the Psalmist’s and Jesus’ perspective of a person who walks in God’s mandate? Such a person delights in God’s law and abides in Christ. In the interiority of that heart, God’s law and Jesus’ words are meditated on and abided in, producing an exteriority of life that is alive to God and aligned to His Word! Such a life of faithfulness begets a God-glorifying fruitfulness. Dailiness and endurance characterise the faithful disciple (“on His law he meditates day and night”, v.2b). The verb “abides” used by Jesus connotes an ongoing, lifelong personal action. A continual abiding in God’s Word is what the Psalmist calls delighting in the law of God, which is contrasted with walking-standing-sitting in the way of the wicked.

Application:

What does it look like for me to meditate on God’s Word “day and night” and abide in Christ every day? How can I cultivate a growing delight in God’s Word?

Prayer:

Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.

Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To delight in God’s Word, meditate on it day and night, and walk in the way of God’s wisdom
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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