Man's love can be fickle and even treacherous

David learned on many occasions that man's love is unreliable. In fact he found that the compassion of some became so deadened that they even sought his life.

One key in dealing with these painful realizations is to never place your hope in the unreliable love of man but rather to fix your hope on the consistent love of God. The Lords love is unfailing. He never forsakes His own. No one loves us like the Lord.

Since these things are true don't set your hope in man to meet your need for love. You will be disappointed time and time again. Set your hope in God's unfailing love. He won't hurt or disappoint you. Keep Him first in your life. 

Below are a few examples in the life of David where the love of people / family failed him. But God was faithful to him through all of these things.

David serves Kings Saul but Saul turns against him and wants him dead
Beginning at 1 Samuel 18

David's own men want to stone him - 1 Samuel 30

David puts trust in God above mother and father - Psalm 27:10

David pursued by his own son Absalom - Starting at about 2 Samuel 15

David is betrayed by a close companion - Psalm 55:12-14
Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
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Some thoughts from Proverbs 10

Things to think about from Proverbs 10

Our conduct can bring gladness or grief to God and our family

1 A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

God faithfully provides for the righteous

3 The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

Poverty and provision can be directly related to laziness and diligence

4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

The tongue of the upright is a blessing to others

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.

Carefully screen someone you appoint or hire or you will suffer for it
(there may be other points that can be taken from this verse)

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.


Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
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Don't let past sin hinder you today

Don't let yesterday's failure hinder you today. Repent, confess it to God, trust that He has forgiven you, forgive yourself and don't dwell on it, move forward and do what is right today. 

Philippians 3:12-14

¹² Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.¹³ Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
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Feelings of inferiority and superiority within the Church

Within the body of Christ there are some people with feelings of inferiority. And there are also some people with feelings of superiority. Some feel inferior like they are not even part of the body, or that they are less significant than other members. There are others who feel superior and don't think they even need other members who seem to be weaker.

One passage of scripture that addresses this issue is 1 Corinthians 12. We can clearly see feelings of inferiority being addresses in verses 14-20. And feelings of superiority is addressed immediately after those verses starting with verse 21. I've put a space in between these verses so it is easier to see.

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
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Psalm 22 - The Crucifixion as told by Jesus Himself

Psalm 22 was written about 1000(?) years before the Cross. And part of Psalm 22 seems to be told from a different perspective. It is not told from the viewpoint of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Rather it appears to be told from the viewpoint of Jesus Himself. Read through Psalm 22 and see if any part of the Psalm seems to be told from Christ's standpoint. 

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?

Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;

And by night, but I have no rest.

3 Yet You are holy,

O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

4 In You our fathers trusted;

They trusted and You delivered them.

5 To You they cried out and were delivered;

In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,

A reproach of men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me sneer at me;

They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;

Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;

You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.

10 Upon You I was cast from birth;

You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near;

For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

13 They open wide their mouth at me,

As a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,

And all my bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax;

It is melted within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;

And You lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded me;

A band of evildoers has encompassed me;

They pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones.

They look, they stare at me;

18 They divide my garments among them,

And for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;

O You my help, hasten to my assistance.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword,

My only life from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;

From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;

In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;

Nor has He hidden His face from him;

But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;

I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.

26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.

Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,

And all the families of the nations will worship before You.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s

And He rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,

All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,

Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.

30 Posterity will serve Him;

It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.

31 They will come and will declare His righteousness

To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
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