DO YOU REMEMBER?

WE STAND IN AWE OF GOD’S MIRACULOUS CARE

READ PSALM 66

Psalm 66:5-7

Come and see what God has done:

he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

He turned the sea into dry land;

they passed through the river on foot.

There did we rejoice in him,

who rules by his might forever,

whose eyes keep watch on the nations—

let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

• Do you remember the day you understood how destitute and needy of salvation you were? 
• Do you remember the amazing discovery of God’s infinite grace? 
• Do you remember when the Word of God became alive and you were able to understand the wonderful truths in it? 
• Do you remember when your unbelief was replaced by faith and trust in the saving power of God? 
• Do you remember when living for the goals of this world became empty, and new desires were placed in your heart? 
• Do you remember when your selfishness was transformed into selflessness for the progress of the Gospel? 
• Do you remember when your old friends were replaced by your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you remember when sins that were normal for you became loathsome? 

This is only part of the awesome work God does in the believer.

The transformation that takes place in us is gradual, to be sure. We do not become perfect over night, our desires don’t change completely, and we do continue to struggle with the desires of the flesh. But we should be alarmed if signs of these transformations are not taking place in our lives.

Galatians 5:17-24

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The psalmist is inviting others to come and see the work of God. He reminds them of how God preserved them and saved them. And he makes clear the distinction between those who rejoice and those who are rebellious, for men react to God in one of two ways: either by humbly and thankfully recognizing His meticulous care, or by rebelling against His sovereignty. We must ask ourselves where we find ourselves today.

We are tempted daily to forget the work of God and to return to the ways of the past. Our selfishness is there to take over at any time we allow it to control our hearts.

We quickly lose sight of our great blessings.

Instead, our lives and goals should be directed to those things which are eternal.

We should live with such a pressing desire to see our Savior and to be with Him that the only attractive deterrent to that is to stay here to be used by the Lord for the progress of the Gospel in the world.

This desire should gain strength within us: to be transformed daily into the image of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We know that this happens through the Spirit’s application of the Word of God and through the refining fire of trials.

We should also desire to be used by God for the progressive growth of our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is done principally in our local church, where we can walk side by side with those we love and be an instrument in the hands of God for their benefit. The way we go through trials and what we learn by them also makes us all the more useful in our ministry to fellow believers.

Finally, our work continues as we become more aware of the lost people around us and we plead for opportunities to reach them. As they observe our lives and listen to our words, they may be attracted to know the Eternal God revealed in the Scriptures.

“Come and see what the Lord has done” should be our continuous song of praise. Is it possible, though, that our mouths are more inclined to say the opposite, “Come and see what the Lord has NOT done”?

I know that I am guilty of that message, masked in my righteous indignation, my displeasure with injustice and just plain complaining.

God is ruling today! God is alertly watching today! I am cared for and no one can come against me, unless God allows it for my own good.

2 Timothy 1:12

… But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

       

May our day begin with an awareness of God’s presence and with a prayer that we will be more and more convinced of His intentional work in us and through us!