Tuesday, January 26, 2016

WE ARE NEVER ALONE IN OUR TRIALS














WE SO DESPERATELY NEED TO BE CLOSE TO THE WORD OF GOD


PSALM 31:1-5

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Again, David guides us in a journey from problems to praise. We don’t really know when this psalm was written, but we know that it was probably written at a different time from other ones that follow the same pattern. This means it is likely that David had to deal with problems most of his life and he needed constantly to focus on his Lord.

Isn’t that a familiar scenario? We are constantly dealing with problems, and the idea that they should disappear is probably not a biblical one, for these problems will expose our sin, will grow us in our sanctification, will bring us closer to God, will prepare us for ministry to our brothers and sisters, and will be an opportunity for God to shine through us in a difficult world.

Problems are always going to be part of our lives, but God has promised to never leave us or forsake us!

David knew very well that his hope in a God Who would rescue him depended on the character of his Lord. It is God’s righteousness that delivers us.

As we run to find refuge in the Lord, we are assured that He is stable. It is wise for us to set our feet on the rock! What a privilege we have because we have a firm foundation. We are wise when we build on it.

Matthew 7:24-27
 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

By God’s grace, we have understood the words of God. Also by His grace, we have repented and turned from sinful ways. And so now we live our lives with a totally different final destination.

Dear friends, what kind of lives would we be living today, had we not been saved by God and received His loving grace? We certainly don’t want to lose sight of that contrast.

The writer knows that even though every situation, every enemy, was supposed to drive him into the arms of God, he needed God to lead him and guide him.

We so desperately need to be close to the Word of God, to allow it to shape our expectations, goals, reactions, and emotions. What a privilege we have to be taught by the Word of God, so we may be shaped and matured.

All David could do was to commit his spirit to the Lord. We cannot read these words without remembering the same words coming from the mouth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

Luke 23:44-46
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

These words followed other words by Jesus just before the cross.

Luke 22:42
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Jesus, our perfect example, submitted His will to God and committed his Spirit into the hands of His Father.

We will have a very difficult time committing our ways to the Lord, unless that commitment is preceded by our complete submission and we know there are very good reasons to make it. David reminds us of them: God has redeemed us and He is faithful. They are certainly good enough reasons for us, also!


May the Lord continue to work in us!

Thursday, January 21, 2016

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?


DO YOU LOSE SIGHT OF GOD?

Psalm 30

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

I often wonder why we are not more grateful. It certainly cannot be that we have no reason for gratitude. It seems that during life’s pleasant situations, we are complacently distracted from appreciation of God’s caring providence, and during difficult ones, we become absorbed by desire for a reprieve. We might even focus more on fear about the next calamity, than gratitude for God’s loving care through the present trial. In other words, our conscious thankfulness to Him is often sadly lacking!

But here, David gives his attention to writing a song of praise to God, recognizing that even in his most difficult of times, when he feared for his life, his God had been faithful.

David goes on to encourage all the saints to rejoice in God’s provision.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

He reminds us that the hard times, caused by our sin or by the trials of life, are only momentary. We need not fear that they will never end. Sorrow and tears are, and will be, part of our human lives, but we must never lose sight of the fact that God’s favor is for a lifetime, and our joy in Him will return.

As we meditate on the corrective purposes of God, we can be assured that joy will be restored in His time. David remembers that, in his arrogance, he acted as if difficulties would never come.


6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.

When David was enjoying peaceful times, he needed to be reminded that those were times of favor from God. He had done nothing to deserve them; they were gifts of God’s grace. And when hard times came, he was dismayed.

Doesn’t that look like a familiar reaction, when thoughts like “Why is this happening to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” go through our minds? But this psalm shows us David’s humble return to God, for he immediately approaches Him, pleading for mercy.

8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”

David knows so well that the Lord is his helper, and that the Lord will receive ultimate glory from all His children.

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

David’s trials were real, and his mourning profound, but it did not last forever. How quickly we forget or overlook the purposes of God: to bring glory to Himself through every situation.

So, knowing that God is in sovereign control of our lives should always produce deep gratitude. How wonderful it is, for us to know that the Creator of the universe is “our” God.


Take the time today, to acknowledge God’s tender mercies in your life! Allow neither good nor difficult circumstances to make you lose sight of God.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

ARE WE WORSHIPING GOD AS WE SHOULD?









WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE POWER AND HOLINESS OF GOD

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

What a wonderful psalm of praise! David begins with the angelic beings’ praise of the Lord. These heavenly creatures recognize the glory and the strength of God. They are in His presence, where His glory shines. His power is displayed, as He rules over the earth and sustains it with His strength.

In His presence, His character is magnified. His holiness is clearly proclaimed, and all the created heavenly beings can do is worship.

We all remember the reaction that Isaiah had, when he saw the angels worshiping God. 

Isaiah 6:1-4
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

Isaiah was impacted with the holiness and majesty of the Lord.

This psalm cannot leave us indifferent, as we stop and meditate on the holiness and majesty of God.

Not only do the angelic beings worship the Lord, but the whole creation proclaims the powerful majesty of God’s sovereign voice.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 

God’s power is displayed in every event of nature. His voice rules with total control over every storm, every cataclysm, every clap of thunder, and every birth. Nature screams God’s glory and majesty.

It is so sad that man calls the majesty of God in the natural creation, “mother nature”, or refers to “acts of nature” in our insurance policies, as if nature had a mind and power of its own. Man has suppressed the truth about God expressed by nature.

Every earthquake, every tornado, every tsunami, every most terrifying event in nature is following the command of the God of creation.

The power and holiness of God in heaven caused Isaiah to worship and to see himself as a finite, sinful being. The display of nature, according to God, is sufficient to condemn every man who does not worship the evident Creator.

Romans 1:18-21
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 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. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Every man must recognize the power and holiness of God.

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

The Lord is the King of every person; He rules forever, and expects man to worship him.

As we read this psalm and are confronted with realities we know: that God is in heaven, a holy and perfect place, and that He reigns sovereignly over all, how do these truths affect our everyday lives?

Do we live in continuous amazement and worship? 
Are we humbled by His careful supervision? 
Are we secure in the awareness of His character? 
Are we peacefully trusting in His power? 
Are we joyfully embraced by His enduring love? 
Are we living lives that proclaim the sovereignty of the almighty God?

If these are not our reactions, we should ask ourselves what is wrong. Have we allowed the cares of this world to distract us? Have we allowed our sinful desires to overshadow the will of God? Are we caught up in worldly endeavors, with no eternal perspective?

David ended the psalm with a prayer for the strength and blessing of God’s people. May this be our prayer, today!

May our knees be bowed in reverential worship at all times.

Romans 14:11-12
for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Let’s do it faithfully, because God will hold us accountable for our testimonies about Him!

Thursday, January 14, 2016

TRUTH MUST INFORM AND PROTECT OUR HEARTS!












WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF STRUGGLING, GO TO THE WORD

Psalm 28

1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

In time of need, David finds hope by resting in his secure trust in the character of God and His promises.

David again, as in many of his psalms, approaches the Lord in prayer, crying out to the Lord, pleading with Him to be heard and helped. In his trouble, he sounds as if he is concerned that God might not be listening to him.

When our difficulties are great, when our enemies seem to be having the upper hand, aren’t we, too, tempted to wonder if God is truly hearing our prayers? David does not lose sight that God is in a holy place and that he must approach Him in reverent prayer. Even though his situation is very difficult, to the point that he worries about dying when he mentions the pit, he still affirms, without any doubt, that the Lord is his rock. He knows where to find his only stability in a difficult time.

When we are going through a hard time, do we waver and wonder if God is really our rock, our hope, and our God who does listen to our cries?

James 1:2-8
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Even James reminds us that, when going through trials, we must trust the character of God and not doubt, as we ask for His wisdom and help to go through them.

God is generous with His help, and does not hold back His wisdom and grace from those who trust in Him completely.

David realizes that the wicked will receive their due reward from God. He wants to make sure that he will not in any way be part of their behavior and their certain end. He knows that they live like hypocrites, with no regard for what God says or does.

Looking at this truth another way, when we doubt God and waver, we are behaving as if we do not believe in His power and works. By getting so caught up in our problems with situations and people, we forget that such faithless reactions are really an insult against God.

Everything we do, every reaction, reflects the state of our relationship with the Lord. When we are bitter and unhappy, it is always a reproach against God and this is never an indication of righteousness.

David has not seen the result of his prayers yet, but in verse seven, he acts in faith, as if he has already received the answer. He blesses the Lord; he brings everyone’s attention to the faithfulness of his Lord. His trust helps him immediately, and his heart rejoices.

I know that we often lack this kind of expectant faith. We wait to see the end of the trials and the disappearance of our enemies, before our hearts can exult.

The truth we know must direct our thoughts and inform our hearts! What a wonderful testimony David has, for he does not allow the trial to direct his emotions. As our hearts respond correctly, our mouths will also proclaim grateful praise to God.

David knew very well the promises of God for His people. He had total trust that God would keep His covenants.

Do we live with that same assurance? Do we believe the promises of God? If we really do, then our hearts and mouths will respond in righteousness.

Is it difficult? Yes, it is at times. And that is why we have the psalms and the whole Bible to guide us, directing our thoughts and hearts. When you find yourself struggling, go to the Word. Pray its truths into your heart, and live in light of the character and the promises of your God.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

WAIT WELL, SIN NOT!











QUICK RESPONSES AND REACTIONS DRIVEN BY IMPATIENCE NEVER PRODUCE GODLINESS

Psalm 27:13-14

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord.

Don’t tell me what you believe, but let me watch your life, and then I will know what you believe!

In this psalm, David has expressed very clearly what he believes about God and His character. There is no arrogance in his believing, since he knows that it is because of the grace of God that he believes. What he knows about God is the result of the Lord revealing Himself to him. What he understands about God’s involvement in his life is the result of the Lord’s loving teaching. All through the psalm, we see the careful resolve David has, to not allow the world or its external pressures to shape his thoughts and reactions.

David has no doubt that God’s goodness is not only reserved for a future time, but is to be presently experienced by him, in his relationship and submission to the Lord. His belief shaped his life.

What do we really believe? Well, what does our life look like? Here we are today, thousands of years later, worshipping the only true God, the same God Who led David. We have God’s Word to inform us and instruct us on the character, wisdom, power, and love of God. We have the local church, where the teaching and our fellowship with other believers should encourage growth in our lives.

Should we ask ourselves if there are reactions and behaviors in our lives that should cause us concern?

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

This verse sums up both the inner feelings and the exterior manifestations of sinful attitudes.

Can a person who is resting in the will of the Lord and has abandoned all things of the past into the hands of God have these kinds of feelings? Or should our faith in God produce totally different responses?

Let me be even more clear: are there people in your life whom you are avoiding or, worse yet, you are not even speaking to? Have you lost contact with a loved one who has caused you to become bitter against them? Is going to work becoming a chore that you must grudgingly endure? Is your marriage relationship becoming an unbearable burden to you? The fact that you are avoiding some thoughts or people does not mean that those sinful attitudes are not present in your heart!

When Paul wrote this verse under the inspiration of God, he was delivering a clear command for all those who are children of God!

The test comes in the next verse:

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

If God has forgiven us our sin, then we have known the grace of God, and that must produce a change in our attitudes and behavior.

This verse encourages the very opposites of avoidance or indifference. This verse is pregnant with inner love and visible actions. It’s hard to avoid its clarity. Read the preceding verses and allow them to shed light on your life.

No one can look at these lists and think that they have never been guilty of one or more of those actions, but there is NO EXCUSE for us to continue in them!

One of the areas where many professing believers struggle is forgiveness. Not only do they struggle to forgive, but they also struggle to ask for forgiveness. If you cannot remember the last time you have asked forgiveness of someone, it is not because you have been living a perfect life, but because you have minimized your sin, or worse, you have justified it in your mind. Are you ready for a real test? Go to the person you are closest to and ask them if they see you as a person who is quick to repent and ready to forgive. But you can only ask this sincerely if your prayer is to become more godly in these ways!

Why do we struggle so much when frustrated in some way? Because we are impatient! We are impatient with our circumstances; we want them to be resolved as quickly as possible. We are impatient with people, because they don’t change as quickly as we would like.

David had learned to wait upon the Lord. When we feel that circumstances and people are not changing quickly enough, our impatience is actually directed to God.

Is it easy to wait? Certainly not! Pain and hurt are real and if we cannot see their value, they become unbearable. David reminds us to be strong and to let our hearts take courage. What does that look like?
We come back to the ongoing teaching of Scriptures: know God, believe His Word, meditate on what is true, surround yourself with godly teaching and godly people, and trust the Lord.

Quick responses and reactions driven by impatience never produce godliness.

David learned many lessons through his seasons of sin and their consequences. He learned well and, by God’s grace, He was used by God to instruct us. Wherever you are in your life right now: learn, repent, strive, trust, and wait upon the Lord.


Thursday, January 7, 2016

OUR PRAYERS EXPOSE WHAT IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL












GOD DOES NOT PROVIDE GRACE FOR OUR FEARS, BUT GRACIOUSLY GIVES US FAITH IN HIM THAT ERASES OUR FEARS!

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.

David has clearly shown that he relies upon God, and is actively trusting Him. His prayers show dependence, urgency, and awareness of his need for God’s mercy and grace.

David’s prayer is immersed in his desire to know God and to know what He desires. He knows that it is God Who must reveal Himself to him.

Many times when we are going through trials, our prayers might be fervent, but the request is basically dictated by our desire for the uncomfortable situation to end. Some feel it is more spiritual, when in a trial, for them to ask God to teach them His lessons quickly, so that the trial will be brief.

These verses display the attitude that drives David: he knows that he deserves the anger of God, but he also knows that God is his Savior.

Our acquaintances and even our loved ones can abandon us, but God, once he has made us His own, will never forsake us.

How can we evaluate our own attitudes as we pray? If there is anger or bitterness or complaining, then it is evident that our prayers are directed toward meeting our felt needs and not directed to becoming the servant that God desires.

Some have given up on prayer, thinking that God is not answering them, but God has promised to answer our prayers according to His timing and His will.

James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

What does it look like for us to seek the face of God? We certainly cannot depend upon our emotions, but only on the Word of God. It is there where we can discover His character, His will, His desires, and what He expects from us.

It is very hard, during the times of trial, to know what God wants, if we have not been diligent in filling our minds with His Word during our times of peace.

Surrounding ourselves with godly people will also help us to learn what God wants from us.

The psalmist’s requests flowed out of his heart and desires:

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.

David knew two things: that within himself, he did not know which path was the correct one, and that reacting to his adversaries would only lead him in the wrong direction.

How many times have we allowed others to bait us into sinning? How often do we even use the behavior of others to excuse our own poor reactions?

As the writer prays this heartfelt request, he asks not to be abandoned to the will of his enemies. What a privilege it is, to have the Lord’s promises recorded in the Scriptures!

Hebrews 13:5,6
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

Our confidence in God’s care begins with our contentment about His provision. God has promised to never leave us and He never does. Feelings of abandonment can only begin when we concentrate on our unmet expectations.

When we are facing trials or enemies, we must keep our minds on what is true! The Lord is our Helper: no one can attack us without God being at our side to give us strength and to help us.

God does not provide grace for our fears, but graciously gives us faith in Him that erases our fears!

Dear friends, we have said it before: trials are real, enemies are real, but we should never allow ourselves to become our own greatest enemies. We must keep our eyes fixed on the Lord and we must be disciplined in immersing ourselves in the Truth, rather than in our emotions!