NON RIESCO A CAPIRE

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND!

These are the words that continue to roll off the lips of all those who find out that we just moved to Italy. “I cannot understand”. Although we have moved to a beautiful country, with great scenery, comforts, art, food, and people, it just does not make sense to most Italians that one would leave the USA to come and live in Rome.

Our explanation of the Gospel as the reason we want to be here does not produce much more clarity, as they believe they are already Christians, with no real need for any new information about God. For many, it’s the first time they have talked to “Protestanti Evangelici”, Evangelical Protestants. They have never heard the simple message of grace, of believing the Bible is the only authority, and of trusting Christ alone for salvation, without the need for works or a structured religion to follow.

Do you celebrate Christmas? Many ask us this question, almost fearful to salute us with “Buon Natale”, Merry Christmas, in their polite attempt not to offend us. It’s a good question that I would like to answer with: “We do, but you don’t!” If they don’t know the true meaning of the Gospel, then how can they celebrate the incarnation of the Eternal Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, the Good Shepherd, the only Savior?

            Philippians 2:5-8

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

           

 Reflecting on these events, I must ask myself if I have lost the wonder of the coming of Christ on earth. Christ left perfection to come and live among men. He had always known perfect communion with the Father, perfect love, perfect holiness, riches untold, continuous glory, perfect worship. This is a move that truly does not make any sense. Man had nothing to offer Him. In fact, all they would offer Him was humiliation, scorn, rejection and death in the most humiliating form, the cross.  

As we approach our Christmas celebrations, we should ask ourselves if we truly celebrate Christmas. Do we end up celebrating the same way everyone else does? Are lights, food, presents, family the focus of the event?

If people are surprised that a couple living in America would move to Italy, how much more puzzled, surprised and, consequently, humbled and grateful should we be that God, Himself, would come to earth and live among us?!

We can only say that we truly celebrate Christmas, if we remember the coming of Christ to earth and live our days according to these truths. Knowing Christ should produce a genuine worship of God, driven by grateful love. It should also produce a selfless love for others - for our families, our fellow believers, our neighbors, and even our enemies.

Has the fact that Christ left heaven to come on earth been taken for granted by us? It truly should not be so.

Christmas should remind us that we, too, have been called to leave our comforts to share the Gospel with those who do not have a clue what Christmas really means.

As you and I live out our human propensity to complain, we should remember that Christ left heaven to be born in a manger and live in a city that was disdained by people in His day. He left the unity of the Trinity to be born into a family with brothers who did not accept Him. He left perfect eternal love to experience hate like no one else ever has, He left purity to carry the weight of man’s sin, and He left eternal life to know death, death on the cross, He left perfection to know pain. Christ did all of this for you and me! This does not make sense!

May our Christmas be a celebration of the resurrected Christ, Who is now honored at the right hand of God! May we purposely point our families, our neighbors, and our world to Christ.

The world around us might not understand, but may we never forget the privilege of celebrating Christmas every day of our lives, no matter what our circumstances are, and to live lives that point others to Christ.

Coming to Italy and leaving the comforts of the USA makes perfect sense for those who truly know Christ, and desire, with His help, to live for Him.

Buon Natale e un Benedetto 2014 a tutti voi!

Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2014 to all of you!

DON’T GIVE UP!

READ PSALM 63

GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL AT ALL TIMES

Psalm 63:5-8

            5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

                        and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

            6 when I remember you upon my bed,

                        and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

            7 for you have been my help,

                        and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

            8 My soul clings to you;

                        your right hand upholds me.

David has reminded us of his complete dependence on God, as well as his desire to know God and rely on Him. His thirst and weakness were only satisfied by God’s power and unfading love. As he writes here, his satisfaction was complete. God’s provision was not only adequate, but rich and bountiful.

When you go to bed, does your mind sometimes race in many different directions? As David went to bed his thoughts were many, his concerns were real. Remember that he was in danger for his life. His nights were not necessarily safe, but his mind led him to rehearse and meditate on the presence and care of God.

His day was filled with praise, and his night was equally-filled with adoration.

Dear friends, when you stop for a night’s rest, are your thoughts driving you to look at your Savior or to look at your enemies and circumstances? I want to remind you that as real and difficult your situations are, David’s plight was also very difficult. His psalm tells us that he was clinging to God and that the Lord was sustaining him.

We certainly need to cling to God at all times. There are so many temptations that come our way that would push us to let go, but our souls must be resolute in holding on. Our own flesh is our greatest enemy. Why do we let go so easily and allow lies to produce doubt in our lives?

God’s character is holy and pure. He cannot think nor do anything that is evil. He never wavers in His perfection; He never has a sinful thought or reaction. We cannot even live a moment of our life without proving the reality of sin, but God is not so. Since we are so easily deceived, why would we not cling to our Lord?

I know that God is wise. He can see what I cannot see, or even imagine. He knows everything about our past, our present, and our future. He was acquainted with us before the foundation of the world and He chose to reveal Himself to us, to send His Son so that we could be forgiven and become His children forever. Nothing ever surprises God. Although He is displeased with our sin, it does not come as a surprise. He saved us when we were His rebellious enemies with nothing to offer, and He is faithful today, as we continue to be needy of Him. His wisdom should cause me to hold on with great determination.

I know that God is powerful. He will never encounter any enemy or situation that He cannot overcome. He is the creator and sustainer of all; apart from Him, no one can subsist. Every atheist and God-hater is alive today only because of God’s grace. Our greatest enemy is not independent; he operates only under the sovereignty of God. Why would I look anywhere else for help?

God’s love is unchanging and perfect. He is never selfish; all of His actions are perfectly loving. Every situation, every encounter in our life is filtered through God’s love. God’s love is sufficient for all His children, and it is never driven by our merits. Why would we ever look anywhere else for help?

God’s hand is always stretched out to help us navigate the difficulties of life. Yes, there are many times when we don’t understand why things are happening to us, when even fellow believers turn against us. We live in a fallen world, where sickness and sin surround us, so we are not immune to its sorrows and pains. We should never lose sight of God’s outstretched hand.

Psalm 63:9-11

            9 But those who seek to destroy my life

                        shall go down into the depths of the earth;

            10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;

                        they shall be a portion for jackals.

            11 But the king shall rejoice in God;

                        all who swear by him shall exult,

                        for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

God has defeated death and the devil. He will bring all things to His perfect completion:

1 Corinthians 15:53-58

                        “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

            “O death, where is your victory?

                        O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Christ defeated sin and death. We are victorious in Christ. Are you tempted to despair? Are you tempted to give up? Are you tempted to rebel? Are you tempted to become bitter?

Don’t give up! Your enduring faith is not in vain. It will produce God’s perfect will in you and will also produce an effect, according to His eternal purposes, in the minds of those who watch you cling to God and live for Him.

May your life be a shining light, even in the most difficult of times. Live for God, desire His word and will, and rest in His perfections.

I NEED THE WILDERNESS!

GOD IS MY ONLY HOPE

READ PSALM 63

Psalm 63:1-4

            1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

                        my soul thirsts for you;

            my flesh faints for you,

                        as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

            2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

                        beholding your power and glory.

            3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,

                        my lips will praise you.

            4 So I will bless you as long as I live;

                        in your name I will lift up my hands.

We know that when David wrote this psalm, he was in the wilderness. It could have been when he was fleeing from Saul or when he was fleeing from his son, Absalom. In both cases, he was in danger for his life and weighed down by sorrow that those he had once been close to now desired to do him harm.

Yet David’s love and dependence on God jumps out vividly, as we read these words. His physical life is in jeopardy, but his spiritual life is very much alive and in fellowship with his God.

As I read these verses, I ask myself what keeps me from having the same thirst for God and the same utter dependence. The answers can be many, but at the core, I believe is that fact that I am distracted by my belief that I can do things on my own.

David is in a difficult situation, but he is not desperate. He knows where to look for his help and he knows that he can count on God’s unfading, faithful love.

The wilderness is certainly a place where we would not prefer to be, but it is very conducive to our dependence on God. There are no distractions and there are no human solutions for us, apart from God’s intervention.

I am convinced that I need the wilderness. I need trials to keep me close to God. I should not look at them as a curse, but as a blessing. I need to be stripped of my self-sufficiency, of all the distractions of the world.

When the distractions are out of the way, then God’s power and glory become more visible, and certainly more necessary. We have the privilege of a relationship with our glorious God. His power is complete and without equal. We are truly blessed.

The wilderness is God’s loving work of creating in us a thirst for Him, above all else. God’s care and love for us is truly better than life. Our fears should dissolve in the light of His glory and love.

Maybe it’s time to examine ourselves. Is our life characterized by this kind of longing and desire for God? Are we distracted by the cares of the world? Are we attracted by the “water” of this world? Are our eyes constantly fixed on God? Is it God’s power that we depend upon? Are we enthralled by His perfect love?

Our dependence on God can be measured by the amount of praise for Him that rolls off our lips, and how much our life is driven to worship Him.

The more I become aware of my desperate need and of God’s immense love for me, the more truly these verses will resonate in my life.

We live in the wilderness, but at times we are fooled by mirages that the world offers. May our difficulties and trials produce a thirst for God and, as a consequence, produce the dependence, praise, and worship that David modeled for us in this psalm.

MEET MY GOD!

READ PSALM 62

DO OUR LIVES INVITE OTHERS TO THE SAVIOR?

Psalm 62:8-12

            8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

                        pour out your heart before him;

                        God is a refuge for us. Selah

           

As David reminds himself of the meticulous care of God and of His sovereign protection, he turns to the children of Israel to invite them to also trust in God.

Dear friends, as children of God, have you stopped to reflect on your purpose? What is your duty, as you look around and live in a world that is oblivious of the God of the Bible?

What impresses the people around us, as they observe the way we live? Are they able to see our dependence on God and our complete trust in Him? Our responses to stressful situations - what we say, our calmness in the storm - will be the loudest testimony. The more difficult our situation, the more impactful our testimony will be. It will be our humanly-impossible reactions that will cause the grace of God and His work in us to shine brightly.

David’s invitation is to avoid placing our trust in earthly positions, plans, or possessions:

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;

                        those of high estate are a delusion;

            in the balances they go up;

                        they are together lighter than a breath.

            10 Put no trust in extortion;

                        set no vain hopes on robbery;

            if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

           

These are such good reminders, as we are prone by our human nature to think incorrectly. We tend to think that, if our life was different, our reactions would be different. If we only had more means, or a better environment, our testimony would shine. But it is good to remember that our times of pain or want last only for a short while, because our lives on earth are so short. Being powerful and rich only bring an illusion of well-being. Looking for our situation to change in order to find peace is unwise, for the psalmist also warns against the temptation to escape it through sin.

Even if our material circumstances do improve, God, through the psalmist, is reminding us not to become attached to them. God does not want anything to turn our attention away from Him. He wants our dependence upon Him to increase daily.

Are you frustrated by your present situation? Are you disappointed in people? Are you feeling overwhelmed by obstacles that seem impossible to overcome? Are you finding yourself constantly desiring that your circumstances would change? Check your heart and trust in God!

11 Once God has spoken;

                        twice have I heard this:

                        that power belongs to God,

            12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

                        For you will render to a man

                        according to his work.

God is powerful and He loves you! His power is unmatched! Even those who seem to have the control over your circumstances have received their power from God!

God’s disposition towards us is driven by His steadfast love. His love is perfect, constant, faithful, unwavering, and undeserved. We did not do anything to invite it and we cannot do anything to divert it. Our trials are filtered through God’s eternal love.

What does that mean, practically? Well, it means that we should not complain and we should not be anxious for anything. Our frustration is only an expression of  rebellion against God!

This psalm is both helpful and rebuking. I certainly cannot change the reactions I had yesterday, but I must recognize the sinful ones and repent of them. Today, I must begin with an awareness of God’s meticulous care, and live mindful of the privilege of knowing the eternal, loving God of the Bible. Overall, my life should be a light to others, to lead them to Christ. And remember that our testimony begins at home, with our family who most closely observes if we are truly trusting  our God!

And above all, remember that God will reward and punish everyone righteously. May our awareness of God’s watching eyes both encourage us and cause us to be careful in what we do.

AN EXPOSED HEART!

HOW DO YOU REACT TO DIFFICULTIES?

READ PSALM 62

Psalm 62:1-2

            1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;

                        from him comes my salvation.

            2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

                        my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

David maintained a single focus through the difficult times. He was dependent only upon God, he trusted only Him for his salvation, and he knew that God alone was the stable ground on which to stand, his only protection.

By his words, we observe that David’s resolve was not momentary; it was not based on the circumstances or the length of the trial, but on the character of God. He had put his complete trust in Him.

We should ask ourselves if that is where we also stand. It is during difficulties when our hearts and our resolve become exposed. It is easy to give lip service to our belief and trust in God, but trials expose very quickly where our heart is, just as David’s reactions show us where his heart was.

David waited in silence, without being shaken. His silence exposed his trust, for he did not complain through the trial. Our first exam during a trial is our mouth! What do people hear from us? We tend to quickly justify our complaining or our outright anger. We call it venting, or ‘thinking out loud’.  We think that it is inconsequential, but it never is. It is exposing that our hearts are rebelling against God. We tend to think that we are just dealing with people, but in reality we are always dealing with our Lord.

When we complain, become bitter, or get angry, our reactions always offend God. We are rebelling against God’s sovereignty, His care for us, His wisdom, and His timing. David knew his God well, and therefore he also knew His character, His wisdom, His power, and wisdom. Maybe we do not know God well enough, maybe we have not reflected enough on Him during our circumstances, and our focus has merely been on us and those around us.

David’s mouth exposed his heart, and his demeanor was also evidence of his trust in God. He was not shaken; his world did not fall apart. David did not waiver or fear, he knew very well who was in control and who was really the hand behind his circumstances.

Dear friends, what are your difficulties exposing in your responses? In what way is your mouth voicing the state of your heart? How is your emotional state exposing your focus?

We all remember moments in which we have failed in the past; maybe some are wondering right now how to bring their heart and feelings under control. The Lord, through this psalm, is calling us to think on Him, to look away from people or circumstances.

David’s enemies were real!

Psalm 62:3-4

            3 How long will all of you attack a man

                        to batter him,

                        like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

            4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

                        They take pleasure in falsehood.

            They bless with their mouths,

                        but inwardly they curse. Selah

His enemies were trying to make him fall, they were lying about him, and they were pretending to say nice things about, but hated him. Although we do not know in which instance of David’s life this psalm was written, we certainly know that he experienced the betrayal of his family and friends. David’s life was not easy, but his trust in God never wavered.

David needed to remind himself to trust in God, the same way we also need to do.

Psalm 62:5-7

            5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

                        for my hope is from him.

            6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

                        my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

            7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;

                        my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

David was convinced that God was his rock of refuge, and had deep and sure trust in God. How long we are willing to wait exposes the depth of our dependence on God; the length of our silence exposes how true our trust is; the peace of our demeanor exposes how much we truly trust our God.

David’s resolve reminds us that our trust must be in God alone. When we trust ourselves or others alongside with God, we will feel overwhelmed and are often disappointed. We must have a single focus. At the end, only one Person will receive the glory, because we know that through Him all things come together.

Even when our circumstances are more pleasant, we should guard ourselves from taking personal credit for what is happening. Our awareness of our dependence on God should be constant, our gratefulness should be evident, and our praise for God should be heartfelt.

May God help us to refocus our lives upon Him, and may our lives invite other people to trust God for their salvation, their hope, and their refuge.

MY HEART IS DISCOURAGED!

I MUST DIRECT MY THOUGHTS TO THE TRUTH

Psalm 61:1-3

        1 Hear my cry, O God,

                listen to my prayer;

        2 from the end of the earth I call to you

                when my heart is faint.

        Lead me to the rock

                that is higher than I,

        3 for you have been my refuge,

                a strong tower against the enemy.

David’s heart was faint! He knew that he needed his God to come to his rescue. He needed to be heard, and he needed refuge in God’s strength, just as we do when we are struggling.

There are many times when our hearts grow faint and discouragement lingers, as we do not see the change we are hoping for. We easily feel overwhelmed by situations that are beyond our ability to resolve. We begin to worry over the possible outcomes, and usually, our minds take us to the worst of those. The fact that our heart grows faint is not wrong in itself, but the potential problem is where it takes us!

Our resolve must be to not rely on ourselves or allow our human thoughts to take over, but to go to a higher place and the perfect refuge.

God said that His thoughts and ways were higher than ours. We must trust His Word and what it says about His sovereign control, His character, His wisdom and His love.

Romans 8:38-39

        For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear friend, this verse does not leave any angle open to doubt. We are protected, we are loved forever, from before the foundation of the world unto all eternity, and yes, that is forever!

As you can notice, David remembers that God has already been his shelter n the past. How quickly we forget the constant protection and care we have received all through our life.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

Difficult times, when our hearts are weak, should drive us to God because we need Him, we know there is no better place to go, and we are thankful for the ways He has sustained us in the past.

Psalm 61:4-5

        4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!

                Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

        5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;

                you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Our prayer, like David’s, should be to dwell in the arms of God forever. Our commitment should be sure and resolute.

Psalm 61:6-7

        6 Prolong the life of the king;

                may his years endure to all generations!

        7 May he be enthroned forever before God;

                appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

As David prayed for his kingdom to endure forever, we know that it was fulfilling the promise of God for the Messiah, Who will rule eternally. We know Christ and we know that God sovereignly planned all things for the arrival of the Messiah, the One who would provide salvation and become our eternal hope and shelter.

Psalm 61:8

        8 So will I ever sing praises to your name,

                as I perform my vows day after day.

Our commitment should as David’s: to live a consistent life of praise and devotion. I love the author’s ending, ‘as I perform my vows day after day’. We cannot, we must not take a day off! Every day, we must set our mind on Christ, focusing it upon the truth. God is our only hope; He has proved Himself in the past, I can make no better choice than to trust Him because life is hard and my heart does grow faint.

GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

GOD'S LOVE MUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Philippians 1:3-6

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

We are so thankful for everyone who has become part of our supporting family. When Paul wrote these words, his thoughts were directed to a group of people that God had brought into his life. His sentiment was not a generic feeling for all believers, but for those that by the providence of God were part of his life of ministry.

Dear friends, as you read these devotionals I want you to know that I am thankful for every one of you. My prayer is that the word of God would impact your life daily, that the truths of the Word would challenge, encourage, nourish, and prepare you.

I am humbled by the notes I receive, about how God uses these meditations at specific times in lives of those who are going through very difficult situations.

The gratefulness that the Apostle Paul felt was for the fact that these men and women were fellow believers. He knew that all true faith is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit. Every person who understands and receives the Gospel has been lovingly chosen by God before the foundation of the World. God knew how much it would cost Him, He knew very well their depravity, their inclination to sin, and He was intimate with every thought and struggle they would have. He loved them completely, perfectly, and forever.

Dear friends, as I look at fellow believers, I am not naturally inclined to want to love them, serve them and care for them. But reflection upon God’s love for me and for them must bring the same results that it brought in the Apostle Paul.   

Knowing that God has lovingly saved those believers who intersect our lives also binds us together as partners in the Gospel, in a common cause sovereignly ordained by God. God’s desire is for the Gospel to progress in our lives. Our lives must therefore be driven by obedience to His will.

We must, first of all, be dedicated to the growth of the truth of the Gospel in our lives. Paul’s all-surpassing desire was to know Christ! His desire was to be transformed and live for Christ every moment of every day. He knew the Word, he prayed for its truth to drive him to the goal of pleasing Christ. Is the Word causing you to grow? Do you love Christ more and more? Are you being transformed into the image of Christ? Only the study of the Bible can produce these effects. Are you regularly attending a church that is committed to teaching and obeying the Word of God? Are you availing yourself of every opportunity to learn, submitting to the leadership of your church? Your commitment to the Gospel produces a commitment to the local church.

As you are praying for the Gospel to progress in your life, it will be natural for you to be committed to the second responsibility that the Gospel brings: investing your life so that other believers will also grow in their love for Christ and His service. As you can quickly see, this commitment is fulfilled in the local church. Our local churches are filled with imperfect sinful people, like us! The Apostle Paul was grateful for all of the believers, because he was committed to love Christ and therefore love those for whom Christ died. When you read on in the letter to the Philippians, you will see that Paul was convinced that he was alive for the purpose of spiritual benefit to the believers. Dear friends, our lives should be intentionally involved in the lives of other believers for their spiritual growth. You can see that if the Gospel is not progressing in us, it will be impossible for us to be committed to caring spiritually for other believers.

Lastly, Paul’s partnership in the Gospel with other believers reminded him that they were all ambassadors to an unsaved world, where they needed to shine as lights. We live in a difficult world; it is our privilege to have brothers and sisters who are also dedicated to spreading the good news. Paul was pleased when other believers were encouraged to evangelize by watching his life, and when they gave financially for him to be able to carry on his ministry. They were partners and this brought him joy.

I tend to be grateful for what benefits me, for people who please me, and when my life in this world is comfortable. But Paul’s gratefulness was driven by his God-given eternal perspective. He knew that God was the initiator and sustainer of every good work. He was willing to leave the results to God, and was pleased to be used by Him, even when it cost him dearly.

Dear friends, in this Thanksgiving season, this is what I am asking God to produce in me: a thankfulness for the work of the Gospel in me, a desire and gratitude for the progress of the Gospel in fellow believers, and a heart for the proclamation of the Good News to a lost world.

The progress of the Gospel is the work of God. If we are driven by that truth, we will never be ungrateful. And God will always be at work in us, in the true church, and in the world!

When you are grateful, you don’t complain!

When you are grateful, you don’t criticize!

When you are grateful, you don’t rebel!

Resolve to love God by submitting to Him, resolve to love your brothers by serving them, and to love the lost by evangelizing them.

WHAT IS OVERWHELMING YOU?

RUN TO THE LIGHT!

READ PSALM 60

Psalm 60:1-4

1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;

you have been angry; oh, restore us.

2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;

repair its breaches, for it totters.

3 You have made your people see hard things;

you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,

that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 

Israel is under threat from its neighbors, and their request is for God to protect them. David realizes that what the people of God are experiencing has been very hard for them to handle.

David does not lose sight of the fact the God will continue to provide protection and care, and the Israelites must continue to fear God.

Today, we don’t live in a theocratic nation, but we must continue to trust God and never forget that He is our shelter and help. We must not look elsewhere for our care and protection.

Psalm 60:5

That your beloved ones may be delivered,

give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 

David knows that God will answer and has the power necessary to accomplish His will. He never doubts the love of God. When we are going through our own difficulties, we can easily be driven to have wrong thoughts: ‘God doesn’t care, He does not love me, He is angry with me, I am not important enough to attract His attention’.

God’s character, wisdom, power and love drive His meticulous, sovereign work in our lives. I cannot understand why God would love me so and why He would have this incredible care for me. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that even though evil happens in my life, it’s always used by God for my own spiritual good. Nothing ever happens that God could not have stopped. God will always be faithful to His promises.

Knowing the character of God and remembering His promises is so important to keep us in the right perspective, as we deal with the difficulties of life. We should never be overwhelmed by our circumstances, but we should always be overwhelmed by God’s grace and love in them! We will always be overwhelmed and discouraged when we lose a right perspective of God.

God’s work in our life was never driven by what we could offer Him or what we could deserve.

Romans 9:25-26

 “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’

and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”

“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’

there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

Are you stunned by these truths? Did you forget where you were when God called you to Himself? Do you overlook the many times when you have come short in your relationship to your Heavenly Father? Let’s be overwhelmed by the fact that we have been called by God, that we are His children, and that we are loved!

David’s hope was sure and his resolve was grounded in truth.

Psalm 60:11-12

11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!

12 With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes. 

How do you deal with the hurt of broken families? How do you continue on, when you find out that you have terminal cancer? How do you trust when you lose your job and you have bills to pay? How do cope with estranged family members? How do you find the joy of living when a loved one passes away? How do you live in submission to authorities who hate God? The questions and the situations are unending!

But the answer is always the same: Don’t lose sight of God’s sovereign control, and run to Him for shelter. Be satisfied by His daily grace and provision. Be a beacon of light for those whom God has placed in your life, so that they will see the grace of God.

Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

Run to the light! Immerse yourself in God’s Word! Surround yourself with Bible-loving people! Any other decision will produce a vain life!

LOOK BEYOND YOUR ENEMIES!

READ PSALM 59

GOD’S LOVE IS FAITHFUL

Psalm 59:1-2

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;

protect me from those who rise up against me;

2 deliver me from those who work evil,

and save me from bloodthirsty men. 

This is another psalm of lament by David. As we read these words, we encounter a familiar theme: David’s life is in danger, those who hate him are wicked, and he has done nothing to deserve their behavior.

As David deals with his plight, though he must hide and flee to protect his life, he never doubts the power of God.

Psalm 59:5a

You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel.

He does not forget who God is. He is eternal; He is the ruler over all; He has shown Himself faithful to Israel; there is none more powerful than He. Even though the situation is difficult for David, it certainly is not for God.

Psalm 59:8-10

But you, O Lord, laugh at them;

you hold all the nations in derision.

9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,

for you, O God, are my fortress.

10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;

God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. 

Men and nations can rise up, but never at the expense of God’s eternal purposes. God, in fact, is watching rebellious men scheme and plot as if they are in control, while He watches them and is totally sovereign over all.

When you and I go through the difficulties of life, what are we expecting? What are we watching for? David is expecting the Lord to respond; He knows he is safe in the strong arms of God.

We should ask ourselves if we are reacting the same way. Bitterness, anger, self-commiseration, and complaint are surely not the reactions of a person secure in God’s steadfast love.

David expects to encounter the eternal and faithful love of God. Even when he seeks God’s intervention, he has God’s purposes in mind.

Psalm 59:13

consume them in wrath;

consume them till they are no more,

that they may know that God rules over Jacob

to the ends of the earth. Selah 

His desire is that they may recognize Who is in control, that they may know the God he loves. Meanwhile, his enemies continue to prowl and he has only one thing left to do:

Psalm 59:16-17

But I will sing of your strength;

I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress

and a refuge in the day of my distress.

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,

for you, O God, are my fortress,

the God who shows me steadfast love. 

He can sing the praises of his God. Even though he has not seen the liberation he desires, he does not doubt God’s strength or faithfulness. His praise is loud and clear.

I have so much to learn from David. My praise and trust often are overshadowed by my lack of joy. My reactions are not godly; my distress is what people can see, while my reactions should, instead, expose the God in whom I trust.

His love should never be doubted! His shelter should always be desired! His character should never be forgotten! His faithfulness should never be questioned!

Dear friends, when we allow our hearts to push us away from God, the result will always be sinful attitudes. 

BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN…

ARE YOU TRUSTING GOD?

Psalm 58:1-2

1 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?

Do you judge the children of man uprightly?

2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;

your hands deal out violence on earth. 

Do you live in a country where those who rule are unjust? Israel did! I am sure that you don’t have to reflect too long to rehearse many things that our government does wrong.

What should not happen is our surprise about that. We live in a corrupt world, where men live in sin and the leaders, in the best of cases, try to follow a human justice. In fact, they rebel at the definition of sin that God gives. They rebel against any notion of the wickedness of man and his inability to do good.

Man is selfish and self-centered, and tends to look after his own interests. This is the world we live in. We are surrounded by people who are looking for their own comfort and self-established rights.

Psalm 58:3-5

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;

they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent,

like the deaf adder that stops its ear,

5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers

or of the cunning enchanter. 

David’s assessment is quite graphic, but it reflects the way that God sees the actions of man. How unwise we are, when we expect the world we live in to be any different. In reality, since it’s not as bad as it could be, we should be grateful to God. It is also true that our complaining does not bring any positive results. Instead, it exposes our unrealistic desires, and possibly, an attachment to this world that God does not want us to have.

Psalm 58:6-9

6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths;

tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!

7 Let them vanish like water that runs away;

when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.

8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,

like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,

whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away! 

The fact that wicked rulers are a reality does not mean that God’s people should approve them or fail to ask God to intervene. As believers, we are responsible to vote with wisdom, as God gives us the opportunity. And we are to pray for our rulers.

1 Timothy 2:1-6

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 

This prayer is not driven by a desire for personal comfort or wealth, but by a desire to live in a situation where the Gospel may progress. The Gospel is so important because it is unique and exclusive. It is the only way by which man can be saved, and there are no alternatives.

Way too often, our frustration with our government is not driven by eternal purposes, but by our own desires. When we see things that bother us, our first question should be if God is using it to promote His kingdom. And the next one should be how we can align ourselves with His eternal purposes.

Psalm 58:10-11

The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;

he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;

surely there is a God who judges on earth.” 

David knew that God would triumph; he knew that he could rest in the promises of God.

Galatians 6:9-10

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The Bible is clear: we must do good, and we should not tire of it, in spite of opposition. We should have our eyes open to opportunities to take care of our fellow believers. We should never be frustrated when God gives us an opportunity to help someone, and we should not look to the government to take care of believers. We have that privilege.

Even when we work, our goal should never be to just take care of ourselves.

Ephesians 4:28

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 

God is in control! He is the One Who provides, and He expects us to use His provision for Gospel purposes. May God help us to learn to depend on Him more and more.

MY MOM USED TO TELL ME A STORY...

READ PSALM 57

GOD’S GLORY, OR YOUR TROUBLES? WHAT WILL DRIVE YOU TODAY?

Psalm 57:5

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth! 

What will drive our attitude today, our circumstances or our God? God’s glory is visible today! His power and His glory are displayed in nature.

Romans 1:20

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

Paul realized that, as a slave of Christ, he had the privilege of declaring the glorious gospel message.

Ephesians 3:8-10

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 

It is God’s plan that through believers, the reality of God’s glory in Christ would be made manifest.

David’s desire was that, even the darkest moments of his life, God’s glory would be displayed and proclaimed. Are these thoughts driving our desires, our reactions, and our goals?

Psalm 57:6

They set a net for my steps;

my soul was bowed down.

They dug a pit in my way,

but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 

David knew that ultimately his enemies would stumble, their devices would be exposed, and God would vindicate him. He was willing to wait upon the Lord’s perfect timing.

Psalm 57:7-10

My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast!

I will sing and make melody!

Awake, my glory!

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds. 

The word ‘steadfast’ is repeated three times here, two times related to David and once to God, but what does it mean?  “Very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or a cause: not changing”, according to a dictionary. David had steadfast faith in the goodness and greatness of God. Even in the darkest of times, when he feared for his life, he never doubted his God.

David’s resolve was displayed in his gratefulness and praise. His praise began in the morning, before all else. He rehearsed the faithfulness of God early, before the distractions and challenges of the day.

Starting the day with God is not an option for those who desire to keep their hearts and minds in check. The days we live in are evil, and we are prone, by human nature, to allow our carnal desires to drive us to ingratitude and complaints. Instead, we must begin our days reflecting on the Lord and His purposes.

As I went to bed last night and prayed, my thoughts went to so many things that are overwhelming me. This morning, as I watch the sunrise and rehearse the goodness of God, I am overcome with gratefulness. I desire to live this day, aware of God’s steadfast love for me.

My mom used to tell me a story of when she worked in an orphanage: During the winter, when the children would be prone to get sick, they used to all the kids up and the director, a elderly lady, would give a spoon of cod oil to each child. It did not taste good, but it was good for them. To make sure that the children swallowed the “evil potion”, they had to say “Thank you”, once it had been poured into their mouths. It is impossible to do that with a mouth full of liquid, so down it went!

Sometimes, when we forget to rehearse the character and goodness of God, being thankful through our circumstances seems to be an exercise like the one of those little orphans in Florence, Italy. Dear friends, whatever God gives us, is always for our good: it exposes our idols, it unmasks our sin, and it should always drive us into the arms of our great God.

Psalm 57:11

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth! 

This is the way David ends his psalm. What will drive your heart today?

IS GOD REALLY MERCIFUL?

WHAT IS DRIVING YOUR ACTIONS AND REACTIONS?

Read Psalm 57

Psalm 57:1

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

till the storms of destruction pass by. 

Is God really merciful? Does God show mercy? Are these generic truths, or is this a dependable characteristic of God? Does God show partiality in His mercy? As men, are we capable of evaluating God’s mercy? Are we aware of enough of what is going on around us to really even notice the mercy of God? Do we really know what is best for us? Do we really understand what we deserve? Can we minimally grasp the gap between us and God? Do we have any understanding of the eternal purposes of God? Do we comprehend the immensity of the miracle of salvation? Do we cherish the privilege of being ambassadors for the most high God?

I know that I easily become very myopic. All I can and, way too often, want to see is myself. I am driven by my wants and my desire for control. I want people to see my value and praise me, or at least not criticize me. I can so easily feel sorry for myself, compare myself to others, and stir up the most elaborate pity-party within my soul. When I welcome others to this pity-party and they don’t readily come to join me, then I am disappointed and even see them as now being against me. I can easily do the same with God.

We are driven to this black hole in our marriages, our jobs, our relationships, our churches. Our life can easily become a roller coaster of joys and sorrows; we become guarded in our relationships. We become defensive in our attitude. We become fearful in our service.

I trust that this is not where you are today! I thank God if you are not, but I am sure you know someone who is there. Where can one find real hope? Where can one find solace? Where can one find healing?

In this psalm, even though David is going through a very difficult time, he goes to God to find mercy. What does he know about God that sustains him?

Psalm 57:2

I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 

David has embraced at least two things about God: he knows who the Lord is and he knows that God has purposes that are being fulfilled in him. David has great trust in the character of God. He is truly the Most High, His power is without rival, His love is perfect, His wisdom is beyond comprehension. God has meticulous plans for him, they have been perfectly planned from eternity past, never to be deviated by others. He is, and always will be, in perfect control.

Pain and enemies are real; we live in a fallen world, where even those whom we hope would never hurt us probably will, not once but many times. Crying out to God is driven by real pain and real awareness of evil. But God is never our enemy, He never has evil intentions. His purposes are always perfectly loving and perfectly planned out.

Even if we are bearing the consequences of our past sin, still God has loving purposes for us. He is active in showing His immense love to us. He is driving us into His arms; He is transforming us into the image of His Son. His work of transformation is specific and continuous. We should not look to escape it, but we should eagerly embrace it.

Psalm 57:3

He will send from heaven and save me;

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 

David knew that God was his protection, that He would know what to do with his enemies in due time. In the mean while, he knew he was perfectly loved and that God was faithful.

Isaiah 53:10a

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;

Another version translates this as ‘it pleased God to crush Him’. God’s will was to crush Christ in order to provide salvation for you and me. His eternal purposes pleased Him, even though They had to go through the agony of the cross. The author of Hebrews reminds us that for the joy that was set before him, Christ endured the cross. The desired end was what drove the Father to plan the Cross and the Son to submit to it.

We need to be driven by the purposes of God and we need to desire them at all cost. When we do, we will never live as sad victims, but as joyful slaves, who have been redeemed by our Master. David allowed the truth to drive his attitude.

Be encouraged today! May those who see you have a glimpse of your Savior. May your words cause others to glorify your Father in heaven.