Monday, October 24, 2016

CAN MEDICINE EVER TASTE GOOD?












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 attitudes 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 the reality of His glory in Christ would be made manifest through believers.

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 own desires, reactions, and 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 gratitude. 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 get all the kids up so the director, an elderly lady, could give a spoonful 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?

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