Fair-weather Faith

How precious is our Father to us? How about his Word?

Where do we turn when troubles arise or when others despise us? What about when troubles arise and others despise us because of our faith?

Our faith will be tested in numerous ways throughout life, and the only way we can endure is if we truly delight in God. If we recognize his righteousness in the midst of the confusion around us and desire him, desire understanding, desire zeal.

Those desires don’t come by themselves; they come by the grace of God. They come by reading the words that God has revealed to us e-v-e-r-y day, and especially in times of doubt and trouble, reminding ourselves of his promises, his goodness, and his truth. His word serves as a tangible, inspiring, calming, convicting, comforting rock during the storm if only we will use it. Though as Christians we need to let our reasonableness be known, let our lights shine, serve others in love, the fact is that Christ advised “if the world hates you, remember it hated me first.” Sometimes despite our efforts, we will be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, attacked for our faith, not for any wrong that we have done but because of the gospel, because of our dedication to truth (although, we have to diligently remember there is a fine line between zeal and a lack of wisdom, between trying to persuade others and trying to win an argument. We can’t confuse being zealous with being a jerk) Trouble and anguish may find us out. We may have enemies that either disregard the words of God, or abuse them, or are ignorant of them.

And when those times come, will we have the kind of foundation in our faith that will cause us to respond as beautifully as the psalmist in 119:137-114:

“My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words.
Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my delight.
Your testimonies are righteous forever
give me understanding that I may live.”

Will we rest on our rock, on his word, continually seeking understanding and wisdom, or will we be crippled by anxiety when the privileges, the friendships, the comforts of this world are stripped away on account of our beliefs? Is our faith built on a deep love for God and his righteousness, come what may, or is it just another fair-weather weekend pastime?

Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 10-11, Psalm 119:137-144, Philippians 4- Colossians 1

All the Earth Rejoice

“Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!“

Psalm 117

Two verses, the shortest Psalm, yet the greatest message. A message for all mankind.

Great is his steadfast love towards us, and His faithfulness endures forever.

The Psalmist focuses on two powerfully comforting and encouraging and universal truths about our Lord: He loves us. He loves us with a patient, unending, constant love. A love that endured throughout Israel’s dark history, as we’ve explored, and continues to endure today, despite our failures. A love that isn’t even confined to one people, but to all. A love that resulted in God condescending to us, once literally, and an infinite amount of times figuratively, so that he could initiate our salvation and work in our lives when we fall short. His love is great.

And his faithfulness endures. God is trustworthy and loyal on top of his fervent love, and he has made great promises to those who trust in him. He promises to redeem and transform all who believe and are baptized, all who humble themselves before him. God promises to complete his work in us. God promises to make sense of the suffering in the end. God promises to comfort us, to give us peace, wisdom, love. He promises forgiveness, he promises an avenue of communication with him, he promises purpose and meaning. He promises his spirit. He promises to draw near to us as we draw near to him. He promises to execute justice. He promises an afterlife, a world, a body, without blemish, without pain, without sin and corruption and death. He promises us an inheritance.

And if contemplating the depth of his attributes and his promises causes you to say “Praise the Lord!” as well, don’t you think that you’re then holding the good news, the great news, that must be delivered to all people and all nations?

As Christians in America, we must consider often how we’re doing in the area of getting his message out, the greatest message. Maybe we aren’t in a position to leave the country. Maybe we can do more to reach out to our family, friends, and neighbors. Maybe we all can always do more.

But, maybe we are in a position to leave the country. Maybe we are and we don’t even realize it…because we haven’t considered it.

William Borden, as he reflected on the numbers of Christian workers in the U.S. as compared to those among unreached peoples in China once said:

“If ten men are carrying a log — nine of them on the little end and one at the heavy end — and you want to help, which end will you lift on?”

Nevertheless, regardless of who you are, where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going:

Praise the Lord!

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Purposeful Praise

Do we take time to praise God in our prayers? Do we ever pray for the sole purpose of expressing awe and love? Where does our mind drift when we look up in the sky, or look down at an intricately designed plant or when we steal just moments of peaceful quiet with a beautiful view, cup of coffee, and book in hand?

Are any of our prayers simply about God? To God? For God? In light of God?

Psalm 111 shares 10 short verses revealing the beauty of God, and I believe we would all do well to incorporate this purposeful praise into our daily conversations with our Father. Let’s break it up into 4 themes:

1. Thanksgiving

The Psalmist not only thanks God with his whole heart, but in the company of others. What is he thankful for? Read on!

2. Observance

He says that all who delight in the works of the Lord, study them. Do we study the ‘handiwork’ of God? Do remember what it’s like to be fascinated by creation? How refreshing to be purposeful and present throughout the hours by taking note and thanking God for the daily miracles of nature. They surround us, always.

3. Remembrance

The Israelites were instructed to teach and bring to remembrance the justice and mercy of God throughout the day, to tell the story over and over again of how He delivered them. Are we diligent to remember not only the creative works of God, but the redemptive? If we need refreshing, do we return to the scriptures to learn again of His provision and His covenant? He is working mightily in us, always.

4. Fear

“Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” – v.10 Do we praise God, knowing that He is…God? Holy and awesome and just and full of wisdom and mercy? What a needed perspective-changer during our hectic, self-focused days, that over time will actually lead us into the abundant vineyard of God’s wisdom. He is the sovereign God, always.

There’s simply no better ending than for us to say together with the Psalmist: His praise endures forever!

Today’s reading: Judges 10-11, Psalm 111, Romans 16 – 1 Corinthians 1

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Life’s Tough, Then You See God

Today’s reading is Psalm 146-150.

It is pretty impossible to actually give a definite description of the order of the Psalms, though that hasn’t stopped people from trying. The best explanation I’ve ever heard is that the order of the Psalms mirror life. In one moment, our satisfaction in the Lord is so deep we can’t help but sing His praises. In the next, some news or struggle has us wondering what on earth God is doing; but then a clear path is before us, and we are back to praising Him. One thing is certain, our lives will end with a powerpack of profound praise. For all the ups and downs of life, we are on our way to being in the presence of God where the praises will be never ending just like the final sections of the Psalms. Spend some times in those final poem/prayers and be amazed at the praise. Sure, life is tough, but then you go see God. Won’t it be wonderful? Praise the LORD!!!

Monday’s reading is Proverbs 1-5.

Search Me, O God

Today’s reading is Psalm 136-140.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV).

My favorite passage in all the Bible. It used to scare me because I thought David was saying, “Search me and see how awesome I am.” I was certain I could never measure up to this passage; that if God searched me He would find the real me, be disappointed, and cut me off. But, that is not the request. David is admitting there are still parts amiss in his heart, but the only way to overcome is to enlist God as the cleanser. Instead of waiting until we’ve cleaned up our hearts and then asking for God’s searching, we can ask God to get in the nooks and crannies. He won’t cut us off, He’ll clean us up. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 141-145.

Finding a Place for God

Today’s reading is Psalm 131-135.

“I will not enter my house or get into my bed,
I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Psalm 132:3-5.

Of course, David was talking about finding a place for the house of God, the temple. Yet, where is God’s temple under the New Covenant? Aren’t we, His church, the temple? “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (I Corinthians 6:19, ESV). Unlike the modern spiritualist culture, we aren’t looking for the god within, we need to invite Him in. Are you making a dwelling place for God within? Don’t give any sleep to your eyes until you do.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 136-140.

The God Filled Prayer for His God Filled Church

Today’s reading is Psalm 121-125.

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!” (Psalm 122:1, ESV). What better place for the God Filled to be. No doubt, as a song of Ascents, the psalmist was looking forward to time in the Jerusalem tabernacle/temple. However, under Christ’s New Covenant, this doesn’t lead us to look for a destroyed building to be rebuilt, but to the fulfilled temple and house of God which is His church (cf. I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19-22). Understanding this, the God Filled need to make Psalm 122:6-9 our prayer for the heavenly Jerusalem, Christ’s church (cf. Hebrews 12:22-24).

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
‘May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!’
For my brothers and companions’ sake
I will say, ‘Peace be within you!’
for the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.”

Are you praying for Christ’s church, the heavenly Jerusalem, the house of the LORD today?

Monday’s reading is Psalm 126-130.

The #1 Place to Find Help in Affliction

Today’s reading is Psalm 119.

I hope you read Psalm 119 more than once today. In between all the statements about God’s Word, you’ll find a man who is going through some kind of amazing affliction and struggle. He can’t understand why God hasn’t done what His covenant word promises, and he’s calling on God to keep up His end of the covenant by delivering right now. Have you ever been there? Are you there now? Do you wonder how you’ll survive? “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life” (Psalm 119:92-93, ESV). God’s Word is not a homework assignment, it is a lifeline. Are you hanging on to it?

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 121-125.

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

Today’s reading is Psalm 116-118, 120.

Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let Christ’s church say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let all God’s children say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let all the brothers and sisters say (to one another),
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let the abandoned, betrayed, and broken say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let the returning prodigals say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let all the world learn,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good:
for his steadfast love endures forever.
(Adapted from Psalm 118:1-3, 29, ESV)

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 119.

The Greatest Competition in the Universe: And You’re Part of It

Today’s reading is Psalm 111-115.

The greatest competition in the universe. In one corner weighing in at 235 pounds, Edwin Crozier. In the other corner, too infinite to imagine weighing or measuring in any other way, God. The competition? Who’s going to get the glory in my life today?

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1, ESV).

Who will win the competition in your life today?

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 116-118, 120.