Still Your Hearts

 

When I hear the song Like A River Glorious, something in me shifts.  It reverbrates into my inner core.  Very comforting and uplifting.

It's one of those lovely old pieces you rarely hear anymore.  The reassuring words, despite trials and tribulations of life, we can still,

"Stay our hearts upon Jehovah".  

In so doing we will find perfect peace and rest.

Do have a listen.  Close your eyes.  Listen.  Still your hearts.

Be blessed.

                                                  ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Inspired by, Like a River Glorious.  Sing it along with Northside Baptist Church, Charleston, SC.  Or slightly more lively, try with Squirrel.

Keep Transforming (1 Corinthians 5:1, 8, 12 ESV)

 

Another conversation on another day touched on a believer who'd been quite a wild woman before she'd come to Christ.  There were some who'd not known of, nor seen, her transformation that'd happened since her salvation.  They'd only known her at her present state.  There were still things that needed to be worked on that seemed very glaring and offensive.

True, she, and all the rest of us, for that matter, need continual renewal of our minds.  We need that continual progressive sanctification.

We are exhorted,

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2 ESV).

This is what every follower of Jesus Christ needs, whether they have been recently born again, or they've been saved for decades.  It's always an ongoing project we need to work on with Holy Spirit's help, intervention, conviction and guidance.

Old ways have to go, the new ways moving towards Christlikeness need to be worked on, so we can do well and be acceptable to God.

With renewed minds we can then eat of the Lord's supper with the,

" ... unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8 ESV).

The Corinthian believers needed to address certain issues that had not yet been relinquished among them.  Things from their old ways.  Here in chapter 5 and verse 1, Paul blatantly names it, because it was so perverse that not even ...

 " ... pagans would tolerate it" (vs 1).  

That is, the man who had his father's wife.  This is incest.  This was a form of sexual immorality.  They were told to remove this man from among them.

So whether there are gross sins, like this, or slander or lying and so on, all these are from our old ways.  The way before we have come to Christ.  When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior we become a new creation in Christ and we need to transform by the renewal of our minds.  Then our actions will follow suit.

We need to look within ourselves, and examine and see if there be any wicked ways in ourselves and then address them humbly and prayerfully before the Lord.  Follow that with repentance, confession to the Lord and a putting off of the old way and a putting on of the new.

Then have mercy and grace with the "wild woman," or man, who is still in the process of transforming too.  By God's grace we can give Him glory with renewed lives.

Amen. So be it, Lord.

                                                   ~  ERC  May  2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 5:1, 8, 17 ESV.

Sing, The Power of Your Love, along with Hillsong.

Entreat, Not Retreat (Slander) (1 Corinthians 4:13 ESV)

 " ... When slandered, we entreat.  We have become and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things" (1 Corinthians 4:13 ESV).

Ironically, my husband and I were speaking with a friend the other day about people who slander others.  How bad it feels when we have to listen to someone who is slandering another, and how the listeners want to back off but because they are not sure what to do, they retreat from the person.

If you do or say something about it, then you may well be the next 'victim' of the person's slanderous vendetta.  So what can be done when our ears are assaulted by slander?

Well, this morning, what do you know but I stumbled upon 1 Corinthians 4:13. (ESV),

" ...when slandered, we entreat ..." Paul said. 

 The 'we' being the apostles, plus Paul.  They were all in the dog house or even the dirty dungeon of 'Christians', yes, 'Christians' contempt.  It was like they were the

 "scum of the world" (vs 13).

Can you imagine!?  The great apostles who had been Jesus' originally chosen 12 and who'd become apostles (minus Judas Iscariot).  They had become 'scum' in the minds of the Corinthians!  They were being slandered!

Paul's response though, was not to rage and attack back.  It was not to retreat either, rather to 'entreat'.

Entreat was to answer kindly, to beg or beseech the attacker.  Does that put you in mind of Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)?

"A soft answer turneth away wrath.  But grievous words stir up anger."

But do we dare confront the slanderer?  If the person claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ, they'll need to be gently, yet firmly confronted.  The how and when would need the Lord's intervention and sincerity of heart on the confronter's part, I should think.  Much prayer before action.  

If you search the Scriptures you'll find ample mention of slander (or gossip).

"Do not spread false reports"

is in Exodus (23).  That's very early on in the Bible.

The book of Proverbs has several references linked to slander.  Slander can separate close friends (see 16:28).  And in Proverbs 10;18 NLT we read,

"Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool."

Ephesians 4:31 commands,

"Get rid of all ... slander, along with every form of malice" (ESV).

We do well to remember we will have to give account of all our empty words in the day of judgement (see Matthew 12:36).

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to examine ourselves, watch our thoughts and our words.  Are we spewing slander?  Repent and confess it to the Lord (see 1 John 1:9).

I read a book by Deborah Smith Pegues about taming our tongues.  It was very helpful.  There's one thing she would say when another person began to speak slander or gossip to her.  She'd say,

"Tongue fast!" 

and point to her tongue.  This would tell the slanderer that she did NOT, want to hear the slander.

I can imagine that would have stopped some in their tracks.  The speaker may even have been offended, but they would have gotten the point - hopefully.  It could be worth a try the next time you hear someone spout slander.

In this way you could entreat the person instead of retreating from, especially if that person claims to know and love Christ.  By Holy Spirit's empowerment, let us speak gracious and kind words about and to others, and cut off that which attacks and endangers another's character and reputation.  

Be honest and seek the Lord's revelations of your own attitudes and words.  Ask Him to show you.  Then put into action to do as He reveals the truth of unChristlike behavior, to rectify your habits to become more pleasing in His sight.  Let's be transformed through progressive sanctification or our souls.  

May God get the glory in our thoughts, minds, hearts and actions.

                                                ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 4:13  ESV.

Sing, What Your Are, Speaks So Loud, along with Selah.

Further related links to check out regarding slander ...

Slanderous Words (TT)

Morning Musings - Slanderous Slander

Tongue Fast (TT)

Lord's Day Devotion - Shame - Free

 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16 ESV)

The gospel is there, available, ready and waiting for everyone.  Those who believe, receive. It is not just for one group of people either.  No one needs to work for it.  There is power in the gospel.  There is no need to be ashamed of the gospel; Paul, the writer of this verse, was not.

Some people do hide their faith in Jesus.  It's safer for them.  We call these people secret Christians.  But the power of the gospel cannot be hidden in our lives.  The truth will come out in our actions and even in our speech.  Eventually, our salvation will be known, similarly as to how Peter's manner of speech gave him away that he was a friend of Jesus' (see Matthew 26:73).

This is different than being ashamed of the gospel.  It means you have the faith or appear to certain people as having it but don't want certain groups of people, perhaps schoolmates, or other employees where you work.  Still, the truth may be eventually revealed.  Light cannot be hid in the dark.

Fear of being ridiculed and/or receiving mild persecution may keep us trapped in shame and fear.  But Jesus paid the cost of the gospel of salvation, received through faith and belief in His work on the cross.

Being trapped in the fear and shame of the gospel is crippling and stunts our spiritual growth and our testimony to others.  Let's pray and ask the Lord to free us from such fear so we have the boldness and courage to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ from rooftops.

This Lord's Day, as we remember Jesus in His death and resurrection, let's remember what it cost Him to gain our salvation for us.  Also, remember there is power from God that can enable us to shed our fear of man, and replace it with the fear of God and open life in Christ.

As we remember, reach for and partake of the broken bread and drink from the cup of wine, those symbols representing His sacrifice.  He openly hung on a shameful cross to bear our shame and set us free from it.

Adam and Eve's naked shame was covered with an attempted fig leaf covering. However, it was not enough and they still felt shame, as they should have.   In contrast, Jesus covers our shame by the power of His blood, death and resurrection.  Know this power and be set free.

Lord Jesus, once again we cannot thank You enough for going through all the suffering and sacrifice of the cross to buy our pardon and offer the gift of salvation.  Thank You for this power of God now in us, and working through us.  May we have the courage and boldness to openly declair Your name and live for You - shame free.  I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, amen.

                                                      ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on Romans 1:16 ESV.

Sing, His Robes For Mine, along with Hymns of Grace 2021.

God's Fellow Workers (1 Corinthians 3: especially vs 6-9 ESV)

 

When we have the mind of Christ and understand that His mind is the top mind that can never ever be surpassed by any mere human being, we begin to have some wisdom.

What's more, we will know that when and if we plant and water something it is only God who causes it to grow.

I got some clippings from a friend a couple of weeks ago.  I planted them and watered them and they did grow.  They especially liked being put out in the rain to let God water them.  He really encouraged them to grow well.

So the planter person could not boast of that growth.  We realize that ...

" ... neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives growth" (1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV).

So let's apply this to doing God's work.  We may have a smaller or a bigger part in it but we need to let God do His part too.  He's the one to supply the growth.  We cannot boast or take sides with the one who plants nor the one who waters.  We can only boast in God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is something the apostle Paul addressed with the Corinthians who had been taking sides with their favorite leader, whether Apollos, Paul or Cephas, respectively causing divisions and quarrels.

We do well to realize that they, and we in our day, are

 "God's fellow workers ... [His] field and [His] building" (vs. 9).  

Ownership belongs to Him.  Draw near to Him and so maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We belong to Christ and not to any one particular leader.  Boast in Jesus alone.

                                              ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 3: especially vs 6 & 9 ESV.

Sing, How Deep the Father's Love For Us, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Good and Helpful Answers (1 Corhinthians 2: especially vs 14-16 ESV)

 

We have the mind of Christ because we have His Holy Spirit indwelling us.  That is, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, He indwells.  This does not necessarily mean we fully understand our Lord's mind.

"For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him"                              (1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV).

A natural person cannot, a spiritual one, may, that's why obedience to HIS instructions are imperative.  He knows the full picture, we only partially know and understand.

We can get wisdom, knowledge and understanding imparted through the Holy Spirit.  There is need then to be still and listen for His guidance and direction.

Some things, I'd say, we'll never fully know or understand in our life time.  God is so BIG and no one can fathom His mind.  But when we go to be with Him, I believe either it won't matter so much or He'll give us the full scope when we meet Him.

So, the element of trust in Him comes in here.  Trust that He will always know what's best for us and in that trust we can rest, abide and obey Him.

The other day I told a friend I wanted to pick her brain for a specific reason.  She was willing and gave me some helpful answers.

I think that because we have found a Friend in Jesus, that we can 'pick His brain' for some specific reasons too.  We may not always get the exact answer we were looking for but there will be helpful direction.  His mind is the most brilliant of all - they will be good and helpful answers. 

 I trust Him.

                                             ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 2: especially vs 14-16 ESV.

Sing, Trust and Obey, along with The Celebration Choir.

Benedictions that Warm the Heart (Hebrews 13:20 & 21)

 

Do you like benedictions?  I do.  They are so caring.  My church began adding them after the closing prayers.  I always feel blessed by them and leave with a happy smile on my face and a warm heart within.

Aaron, the first High Priest of God over Israel, used to say a good night benediction over the nation.  He'd raise his arms and bless them saying,

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace ..." (Numbers 6:22-26 ESV).

It was said nightly like a bedtime prayer.  Night-night, tuck you in, sleep well, of course, but it was so much more.  By so doing, God told Moses that Aaron would be putting His ...

" ... name upon the people of Israel, and I [He, God] will bless them"                  (Numbers 6:27 ESV).

The writer of Hebrews wanted to bless the Hebrews too.  It would resignate, with them deeply because of the High Priests' nightly benediction pronounced over them.  This is something that even though they'd become Christian Hebrews, they could understand and appreciate it and be heart-warmed.

But this benediction also had an exhortation imbedded in it.  We don't just have the privelege of being blessed, we have responsibility too - a two-sided coin portfolio.  Each follower of Jesus Christ has been blessed with this benediction too.

Peace is pronounced over us in the name of the God of peace but part of the blessing stems from being equipped ...

 " ... with everything good that [we] may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ ..." (Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV).

So, as we go forth we may experience the happy smile and warm heart but we need to be equipped and use what God has given us through our faith in Jesus Christ for the good and benefit of the congregation of believers and beyond, and do His will, thus giving all glory and honor to Him forever and ever.  

                  GOD BLESS YOU!

                                                     ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on Hebrews 13:20 & 21, Numbers 6:22-27 ESV.

Sing, A Mother's Prayer (Numbers 6 :22-27) Cry Out Worship.  Also, Numbers 6:22-27 - The Bible Song.