Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Ps 8:2

The greatest thrill and excitement for me as a father was at the birth of my first child. After months of anticipation, to finally see her appearance and to hear her cry, my soul leaped within me. I will cherish that moment all the days of my life. I recall watching with amazement as life began to spring and spread throughout that infant body. Yet, with great awe and amazement, I recall the vision of her suckling mouth taking to her mother’s breast only moments from her mother’s womb. What strength from such a helpless child! God, in His magnificent wisdom, “ordained strength” in the “mouth of babes and sucklings” to sustain life from the first moment at birth. From that moment forward, the mother-infant child bond is formed, and the infant child grows to know and find comfort, nourishment, nurturing, safety, and security at its mother’s bosom. The psalmist notes in this passage of scripture that the Creator of the universe acknowledges the worship and praise from the mouth of infants (Ps 8:2). In the Gospel of Matthew, we can see that when Jesus entered the temple of Jerusalem, children cry out to Him saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” There crying out to Jesus caused the chief priests and scribes to become indignant and asked Jesus if He had heard the children. Jesus replied, “Yea, have ye never read, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” (Mt 21:15-16). The cry of a child calling out for its mother or father is authentic and sincere because of their dependency on the care received from its parents. In like manner, those who are aware of their sinful, fallen lives and their dependent need for God’s intervention, will come to know the faithfulness of God and cry out desperately to Him. Dear friend, as we experience the redemption of God through His Son Jesus, we too will cry out like the psalmist, “Holy and awesome is His name” (Ps 111:9). My friend, are you maintaining a conscious, everyday dependency upon God? Are your prayers to God the prayers as of “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings” in that you cry out in desperate need for Him and His strength? Friend, He created us for worship and praise. What will come from your mouth today? Call to Him for “the Lord will hear when I call unto Him” (Ps 4:3).  Father thank You for Your love and Your faithfulness to care for our every need. You are “my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer” (Ps 18:2). You are great and greatly to be praised! (Ps 48:1) In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth! who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. Ps 8:1

Have ever stood in a place that was breathtaking? Such that overwhelmed your entire being? I recall the first time I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon. The vision was so glorious and unbelievable, that I became nauseously overwhelmed by the majestic view of the wonder of this creation. It was as though to experience the beauty of creation in an instant. Later, as I stood before the powerful waters and the majestic sight of the Niagara Falls, those same feelings and emotions returned. Both of these created wonders, as magnificent as they are, are only small elements of the marvelous wonder of God. Every thought that I ever had for the presence of God, His majesty, His wonder, His glory, His holiness, and His righteousness failed in comparison. He is more wonderful and breathtaking than the depth of the Grand Canyon or the power of the Niagara Falls. The scripture passage reminds us of the praiseworthiness of God and “how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth.” In each of those moments I felt an overwhelming unworthiness in my spirit that cried out along with Peter when he saw his boat become overwhelmed with an abundance of fish. He was so humiliated in his unworthiness that “he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8). I become equally ashamed when I am reminded that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). How is it that we can say, “how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth” and complain about our circumstances? We gripe and complain about the displeasure, dissatisfaction, disappointments, and discouragements encountered in life, and fail to recognize them as the excellent works of God. Dear friend, have you allowed despair, anger, anxiety, or bitterness to dampened or dimmed your view of the excellence of God? Do you desire more change in your circumstance or more change in your view of God? Jesus came that we might have eternal life “and this is life eternal, that they might know the only true God, and Jesus Christ” (Jn 17:3). My friend, God has not abandoned you in your circumstances. His excellence is present and powerfully working for you “according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). God has promised that He “will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb 13:5). My friend, be renewed in the word of God (Rom 12:2) and allow the Holy Spirit to guide “you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9) that you might behold His glory and proclaim with all the saints “how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth.” Father thank You for Your love and Your excellence “above the heavens.” I humbly bow in Your presence and praise You in the blessed and holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Rev 2:9

How can people be rich when they suffer trials and tribulation and live in poverty? Oftentimes we struggle with this mindset when circumstances change, or situations become difficult. However, the riches of the world are not the riches of God. The scripture passage encouraged the early church and now encourages us when we face difficulties and hardships in our walk of faith. The ancient church at Smyrna faced more adversity, suffering and lived in greater poverty than any other first-century church. Yet their love for Christ and devotion to the gospel was unceasing and were a notable example to other churches. Though they were impoverished and troubled for their faith, they remained steadfast in the works of righteousness and pure “in obeying the truth through the Spirit, in sincere love of the brethren” (1 Pet 1:22) to minister the gospel that souls would be saved. They richly ministered the peace of God in the midst of conflict, “joy inexpressible” (1 Pet 1:8) in the midst of sorrow, contentment (Phil 4:11) in the midst of poverty, righteousness in the midst of lawlessness and evil, love in the midst of hatred, and forgiveness when subjected to offense and pain. Their works and living conditions did not go unnoticed, for Christ took notice and said to them “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou are rich).” Dear friend, the abundance of money or possessions does not elevate you in God’s sight. In fact, it only increases your obligation to be a generous steward of that wealth. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Lk 2:48). My friend, “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16) and focus on spreading the Father’s riches that His peace, joy, righteousness, love, and forgiveness reign in your heart and flow to others. For “thou art rich” and rich in the kingdom of heaven. Father thank You for Your love and the abundance of Your goodness and riches through Your Son, Jesus. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.