Psalm 55:12-14 “For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.”
Prepare yourself. Expect it to happen eventually. Sooner or later it will happen, and it will hurt. Somewhere down the road of life, as you live imperfectly for the Lord, as you try to walk in love and integrity, a blinding blow will suddenly catch you off guard. A friend will betray. A friend will deny. A friend will oppose. A friend will depart. It happened to Jesus; it will happen to you!
The hurt runs deep because a relationship of trust has been severed. You became dependent. You learned to lean on it. You truly loved it. It will hurt when it is gone. It also hurts because it is so unexpected. You expect enemies to crucify you. You do not expect friends to take a shot or walk away too!
You could grow angry and bitter. You could decide to never trust again. You could walk away from all friendships so as to not get hurt again. Or, you could take the best action possible in this situation; you could run to God!
Psalm 55:16 “But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.” That may be the purpose for the severed relationship all along! Hardly nothing proves the Lord’s love, faithfulness, and goodness towards us like being greatly disappointed by others. Just remember, you’ve let friends down too!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
What To Give The One Who Owns It All - Psalm 49-52
Each Christmas my wife and I face this challenge. What do you give someone who seemingly has everything? It’s a tough decision. We certainly want to give items that will be appreciated, but given our budget and given their possessions, that is a hard task. We have discovered that giving something with some kind of significance attached to it is the answer. Trinkets, toys, and techno gadgets are too expensive, too temporary, and too meaningless!
Now the task of giving becomes enormous when you turn from thinking of friends and family to thinking of God! He really and truly owns it all! In Psalm 50:10-12 the Lord declares that every beast, every cattle, every bird, everything that moves, the world, and all its fullness is His! The point was that when Israel sacrifices animals to God, they are not really “giving” Him anything. He already owns them.
What do we give God? Our lives? Not really, He owns those. Our breath? Not really, He owns that. Our tithe and offerings? Not really, He owns our money. What do we give to the One who owns it all?
Part of the answer is found in Psalm 50:23, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me.”
Thanksgiving is giving to God because thanksgiving acknowledges it is all God’s to begin with! Secondly, thanksgiving gives the glory to God, and that is our chief end in life! Giving glory to God, glorifying God, living to and for His glory, these are ways in which we give to God. The ONLY ways in which we can give to God!
Now the task of giving becomes enormous when you turn from thinking of friends and family to thinking of God! He really and truly owns it all! In Psalm 50:10-12 the Lord declares that every beast, every cattle, every bird, everything that moves, the world, and all its fullness is His! The point was that when Israel sacrifices animals to God, they are not really “giving” Him anything. He already owns them.
What do we give God? Our lives? Not really, He owns those. Our breath? Not really, He owns that. Our tithe and offerings? Not really, He owns our money. What do we give to the One who owns it all?
Part of the answer is found in Psalm 50:23, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me.”
Thanksgiving is giving to God because thanksgiving acknowledges it is all God’s to begin with! Secondly, thanksgiving gives the glory to God, and that is our chief end in life! Giving glory to God, glorifying God, living to and for His glory, these are ways in which we give to God. The ONLY ways in which we can give to God!
A Very Present Help - Psalm 45-48
Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
That God is “a very present help” to us who believe is a profoundly, comforting truth! He is “present.” That is, He is never, ever, in any way imaginable absent! He is never missing. He is never sleeping, slumbering, unaware, unknowing, uncaring, unseeing. He is present. Always!
He is a “very” present help. He is not only there, He is really, truly, faithfully, lovingly there! He is “very” near us and with us. He is watching over us with an eternal love, an infinite wisdom, and a Father’s heart!
He is a very present “help.” He is always as close as our next breath, as our help. He is our true refuge and strength. Without Him, we could never make it. With Him, there is nothing we cannot make it through!
Since God is a very present help in trouble for us who believe, fear gives way to faith! Where God is present and trusted in, fear of others or circumstances is absent! Notice particularly the kind of earth-shattering, cataclysmic circumstances the psalmist describes here. He does not have little “bumps in the road” in mind here. No, he is thinking of overwhelming, traumatizing, excruciating experiences. The kind of “life” that feels like the Rocky Mountains just imploded! It is then, when life is enormous, shaky, and out of control, that we can rest in God. He is a “very” “present” “help,” especially “in trouble!”
That God is “a very present help” to us who believe is a profoundly, comforting truth! He is “present.” That is, He is never, ever, in any way imaginable absent! He is never missing. He is never sleeping, slumbering, unaware, unknowing, uncaring, unseeing. He is present. Always!
He is a “very” present help. He is not only there, He is really, truly, faithfully, lovingly there! He is “very” near us and with us. He is watching over us with an eternal love, an infinite wisdom, and a Father’s heart!
He is a very present “help.” He is always as close as our next breath, as our help. He is our true refuge and strength. Without Him, we could never make it. With Him, there is nothing we cannot make it through!
Since God is a very present help in trouble for us who believe, fear gives way to faith! Where God is present and trusted in, fear of others or circumstances is absent! Notice particularly the kind of earth-shattering, cataclysmic circumstances the psalmist describes here. He does not have little “bumps in the road” in mind here. No, he is thinking of overwhelming, traumatizing, excruciating experiences. The kind of “life” that feels like the Rocky Mountains just imploded! It is then, when life is enormous, shaky, and out of control, that we can rest in God. He is a “very” “present” “help,” especially “in trouble!”
Handling Spiritual Depression - Ps 41-44
Depression has become a very widespread diagnosis. Many are “clinically” depressed, and as a result, “chemically” dependent. Since we are dwelling in fallen bodies, the mind can fail just as any other part of the body might fail. There may be a chemical imbalance in the brain that, if treated carefully with medicines, enables one to regain composure and face life again. However, if the medication becomes an addiction or a means of “escaping” and numbing the mind, that’s not treatment; that’s enablement.
Many times depression is a spiritual condition not a physical one. When our focus has turned from the Lord to circumstances, when “self” has become the center of our world instead of Christ, when we cover sin, or when we live out of fellowship with God or our brother in Christ, we can become depressed. There are many reasons for and expressions of spiritual depression. How do we handle it? The psalmist gives us an example.
First, we should preach to ourselves! Keep telling yourself over and over the truth! Don’t allow yourself to believe a lie. Psalm 43:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Second, direct ourselves back to God! God is our refuge! God is the source of peace! “Hope in God” (v5). Third, believe that this state of depression is temporary and God will bring you out of it! “for I shall again praise Him” (v5). Fourth, remember to Whom it is that you pray! “my salvation and my God” (v5). If He is your salvation and your God, you are in no better hands than His!
When spiritual depression slams your soul, tell your soul the Truth and give your soul to God. The Lord will triumph over our spiritual depression!
Many times depression is a spiritual condition not a physical one. When our focus has turned from the Lord to circumstances, when “self” has become the center of our world instead of Christ, when we cover sin, or when we live out of fellowship with God or our brother in Christ, we can become depressed. There are many reasons for and expressions of spiritual depression. How do we handle it? The psalmist gives us an example.
First, we should preach to ourselves! Keep telling yourself over and over the truth! Don’t allow yourself to believe a lie. Psalm 43:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Second, direct ourselves back to God! God is our refuge! God is the source of peace! “Hope in God” (v5). Third, believe that this state of depression is temporary and God will bring you out of it! “for I shall again praise Him” (v5). Fourth, remember to Whom it is that you pray! “my salvation and my God” (v5). If He is your salvation and your God, you are in no better hands than His!
When spiritual depression slams your soul, tell your soul the Truth and give your soul to God. The Lord will triumph over our spiritual depression!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Patiently Waiting - Psalm 37-40
The words “patiently” and “waiting” usually do not occur together unless we are confessing that we were NOT patiently waiting! We grow impatient rather quickly when we are forced to wait. Drive-thru lines at fast food restaurants, waiting rooms, waiting for a special delivery, and the slow driver in front of us all test our patience. Why are we so impatient?
Impatience is more than just a personality flaw; it is sin. Impatience uncovers an ugly truth about our nature, namely, we are selfish and self-centered. Why if those people or obstacles would get out of our way, then we could get what we want right now! You see? Impatience becomes even more disturbing when our it is directed toward God. Our impatience toward God says we believe God should be serving us instead of us serving God. It says that we are on the throne of our lives and not Christ!
Patience, though, quiet, resting, patience toward God communicates a far different message. Patience for God’s will in God’s timing says we know God is Sovereign and Father. He will act wisely, faithfully, timely, in our best interest, and for His greatest glory! Patience says “I trust Him! I submit to Him. I lean upon Him. I want what He wants for me!” That kind of patient resting in the Father’s will comes from the indwelling of the Spirit. We must pray for godly patience and fight against self-absorption!
Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”
Impatience is more than just a personality flaw; it is sin. Impatience uncovers an ugly truth about our nature, namely, we are selfish and self-centered. Why if those people or obstacles would get out of our way, then we could get what we want right now! You see? Impatience becomes even more disturbing when our it is directed toward God. Our impatience toward God says we believe God should be serving us instead of us serving God. It says that we are on the throne of our lives and not Christ!
Patience, though, quiet, resting, patience toward God communicates a far different message. Patience for God’s will in God’s timing says we know God is Sovereign and Father. He will act wisely, faithfully, timely, in our best interest, and for His greatest glory! Patience says “I trust Him! I submit to Him. I lean upon Him. I want what He wants for me!” That kind of patient resting in the Father’s will comes from the indwelling of the Spirit. We must pray for godly patience and fight against self-absorption!
Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”
Thursday, December 2, 2010
A Taste Test - Psalm 33-36
A frequent dinner conversation between my parents and I has now become a frequent dinner conversation between my children and me. It goes something like this: Child: “I don’t like these vegetables.” Parent: “Have you tried them?” Child: “No.” Parent: “Then how do you know you do not like them if you haven’t tried them. Taste them. They’re good. You’ll like them.” Guess what? After a few tries, those green things did grow on me. I now love my vegetables; they are good! (Brussels sprouts excluded, of course!)
Some people treat God like their vegetables. They reason, “I’ll give Him a try, but if things don’t turn out like I want them to, then I’m done with this whole Jesus thing!” So they claim to have made a profession of faith, receive baptism, join the church, and even get involved in a few activities. Then, life comes at them fast and they blame God instead of clinging to Him! They conclude, “Well, I tried religion, but it didn’t work for me.”
The problem with those scenarios is that they tried “religion,” they tried “their own version of God,” and they tried “worshipping a god made on their own image to serve their own ends.” They did NOT try the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
When you truly “taste” the Lord, when you truly come in repentance and faith and surrender to Jesus Christ, you find nothing in Him but goodness, delight, peace, and joy! It is those who have truly tasted who joyfully declare, “He is good!” Go ahead. Taste and See!
Some people treat God like their vegetables. They reason, “I’ll give Him a try, but if things don’t turn out like I want them to, then I’m done with this whole Jesus thing!” So they claim to have made a profession of faith, receive baptism, join the church, and even get involved in a few activities. Then, life comes at them fast and they blame God instead of clinging to Him! They conclude, “Well, I tried religion, but it didn’t work for me.”
The problem with those scenarios is that they tried “religion,” they tried “their own version of God,” and they tried “worshipping a god made on their own image to serve their own ends.” They did NOT try the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
When you truly “taste” the Lord, when you truly come in repentance and faith and surrender to Jesus Christ, you find nothing in Him but goodness, delight, peace, and joy! It is those who have truly tasted who joyfully declare, “He is good!” Go ahead. Taste and See!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
It's Going to Take a Long Time - Psalm 29-32
When we get to heaven we will finally fulfill our created purpose. We will at last find ultimate satisfaction when the God-given yearning of our souls meets its God-given end! We strive toward that goal as believers in this life because we have new hearts, a new Guide, and we have been made new creatures. Yet, for all of this advantage and difference, huge barriers still exist which hinder us from completely becoming all that God means for us to be in Christ. Those barriers are sin, the flesh, and the Enemy. They are constantly attacking and distracting, therefore, we are constantly fighting. They hold our attention . . . for a while!
There is coming the day, however, when they will hold us no more! There is coming a day when their power and allurement will be snuffed out. Christ, the Victor over death, hell, and sin will finalize His victory and send every barrier to the lake of fire! Not only will our enemies be removed, but we will be better suited to serve our purpose. We will be glorified in body and spirit. We will never, ever want to sin again! We will be made able to stand before Him. We will see Him. It is then that what we have been created to do, what we have been commanded to do in this life, we will finally be able to do!
Psalm 29:2 “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Can you imagine finally being able to do what we have been longing to do, the freedom and thrill of approaching Him, ascribing to Him the glory THAT IS DUE HIM, and worshipping Him in the fullness of His infinite holiness? It’s going to take a long time to adjust to our new setting! It’s going to take a long time to soak it all in! It’s going to take a long time to ascribe to Him His due glory! But we won’t mind at all. It’s what we’ve been waiting for!
There is coming the day, however, when they will hold us no more! There is coming a day when their power and allurement will be snuffed out. Christ, the Victor over death, hell, and sin will finalize His victory and send every barrier to the lake of fire! Not only will our enemies be removed, but we will be better suited to serve our purpose. We will be glorified in body and spirit. We will never, ever want to sin again! We will be made able to stand before Him. We will see Him. It is then that what we have been created to do, what we have been commanded to do in this life, we will finally be able to do!
Psalm 29:2 “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Can you imagine finally being able to do what we have been longing to do, the freedom and thrill of approaching Him, ascribing to Him the glory THAT IS DUE HIM, and worshipping Him in the fullness of His infinite holiness? It’s going to take a long time to adjust to our new setting! It’s going to take a long time to soak it all in! It’s going to take a long time to ascribe to Him His due glory! But we won’t mind at all. It’s what we’ve been waiting for!
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