“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”–Deuteronomy 33:27

On May 7, 1710, the great Bible scholar Matthew Henry preached a sermon entitled “The Everlasting Arms.” It was the final message in a three-and-a-half-year series of sermons on the subject of the Promises of God. To Matthew Henry, God’s promises were His everlasting arms. They support us, bear us, carry us, and we can never exhaust them. “They are a foundation of our faith, and we have them as such,” said Henry. “On these we are to build all our expectations from God; and in all temptations and trials we have them to rest our souls upon. . . . We have them as the means by which the grace of God works for our holiness and comfort, for by these we are made partakers of a divine nature.”

When trouble comes, we have a refuge that we can run to. The Everlasting Arms, which are represented by the promises of God, will provide the shelter we require, regardless of the circumstances.

If you’re in a storm today, find a precious promise, fix your thoughts upon it, and discover afresh that your eternal God is your refuge.–Turning Point

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms; I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Elisha Hoffman

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” –Habakkuk 3:18

Notice the first word of this verse–“Yet”. To get the context what follows it must be read along with verse 17, “ Although the fig tree shall not blossom , neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail , and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:” I have many fond memories of these verses and have often been greatly encouraged, and challenged, by them. They deserve our attention!

James Smith wrote, “Observe, I entreat you, how calamitous a circumstance is here supposed, and how heroic a faith is expressed. It is really as if he said, “Though I should be reduced to so great extremity as not to know where to find my necessary food, though I should look around about me on an empty house and a desolate field, and see the marks of the Divine scourge where I had once seen the fruits of God’s bounty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” Dear friends, we all should be so joyful! Another writer, whose name I have forgotten, said:

This is why it is crucial that we keep, “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”(Heb. 12:2-3).

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.…” Ex. 23:2
Nearly every parent has warned their children about the danger of “running with the wrong crowd”. They know from experience how easy it is to be influenced by others. As the Bible says, “evil communications corrupt good manners”(1 Cor. 15:33). Children, however, aren’t the only ones who can get with the wrong crowd.That “crowd” might be composed of classmates, co-workers, church members, family, or all of the above. But evil is evil regardless of the source it comes from or the form it takes, and it is to be avoided at all cost. We are to shun evil regardless of its pleasure, profit, or popularity. It is better to stand alone than to fall in with the wrong crowd. Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it right or safe. In fact, sometimes, the very fact that it is popular just might be a good indication that it is wrong. Our conduct should be based on what we must do to conform to God’s word, not what most do.

We live in a day when the popular prevails. We see that in regards to fashion, sports, politics, etc., but the majority isn’t always right. We need to remember that we will not be judged by our peers, but by the Lord, and only His opinion matters. That is why it is so very important that we have strong personal convictions based on the Bible. We must stand for what is right even if it means standing alone. But, although always best, it isn’t always easy.

Sometimes the most dangerous person in your life is someone you admire or love dearly, even someone who might feel the same way about you. Their intentions might even be honorable, but their instructions can be harmful. Thinking you are right doesn’t mean you are. Believing we have the person’s best interest at heart doesn’t mean we do. Wrong is wrong regardless of who says it is right. We need to be wise enough to know the difference and brave enough to do different. Be very careful about what and who you  listen to. One wrong turn can lead to a lifetime of regret. The only safe source is God Himself. Danger often lurks in unexpected places.

Dissatisfaction seldom lives alone. As the old saying goes, “Misery loves company”. When people are discontent they tend to tell others. Then they encourage them to jump on their bandwagon, or aid them in their crusade. Somewhere along the way facts are forgotten, right and wrong gets lost in the fog, and it’s all about “Whose side are you on?” That’s when the pressure builds up. You hear things like, “If you love me you will support me”, or “If you trust me you will join me”, or “If you care anything about me you will help me”. It’s not easy to stand for what is right when you have to stand against those you love, but it’s the right thing to do. In this process we have to keep our emotions in check and our head on straight. Being right doesn’t give us the right to be rude. Joining others in evil is never the right thing to do. Regardless of the cost or circumstances we must live in such  a way so as to please our Master, rather than the multitude. Following Christ is always more important than following the crowd. Never follow anyone unless you can follow the Lord at the same time.