Psalm 108:12-13: "Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
Many of us, whenever we face a crisis introduced by an "enemy," are inclined to rush to our own devices to seek deliverance rather than seeking the LORD's guidance first. We believe that if we can control the situation through our own efforts, we can avert the "enemy" before us. Or we conclude that the remedies offered by the world are more resourceful for defeating our enemies.
When one reads Psalm 109, one finds that the "enemies" are those who open their mouths to speak lies against the ones they despise. They accuse with words of hatred and betray the friendship extended to them. These enemies are wicked and deceitful who scorn those that don't satisfy their hunger for preeminence.
Understanding this context, we find that our greatest "enemy" is the one who would attempt to destroy us if we are not catalytic in their pursuit for lordship. These enemies would attempt to establish themselves as supreme over all persons and things, including the One True Lord. They will use others for this insatiable craving for exaltation, and they will turn upon anyone who would thwart their intended purposes.
As we reflect upon our "enemies" we may find that the most formidable one might be the one staring back at us in the mirror. Do we wrestle within ourselves to be the lord of our own lives? This craving of course is something that we all have fought, for it is the root of sin . . . exalting "self" as supreme (see Genesis 3:4-6). Only through the initiatory, convicting power of the Holy Spirit coupled with a person's consequent resolve to dethrone himself will the sinner break free from tempting enticements for self-supremacy. Sadly, those who would perpetuate their lordship over the One True Lord will find themselves subjected to His eternal judgments.
If we find ourselves exalting ourselves as supreme, we would do well to seek the LORD for deliverance from this most formidable foe. God is gracious and just and will forgive us if we confess Him as the LORD of our lives. We must remember the most telling words shared in the passage above; "The help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory."
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
God's Discipline is Restorative (2)
Psalm 107:10-13: "Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled,and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress."
As we reflect upon these verses, we find that God sometimes introduces "bitter labor" upon those who are acting in rebellion to His Sovereign will. And though this discipline is painful, it nevertheless is designed to draw the impenitent to a place of contrition, confession, and surrender to Him as Lord. Of course, this is not to coerce a person to capitulation simply because God is a tyrant who wants to dominate others; rather, God knows that we were created with the need to have intimate fellowship with Him. God also is Holy and is due all praise and obedience; thus, His creation was designed to exalt His Holiness. To do otherwise is to perpetrate that which is opposite to our original design and purpose . . . . This is cosmic treason at its worst!
Therefore, we know that when God brings discipline to us, it is to draw us back into intimate fellowship with Him. For the Israelites referenced above, they realized that their "bitter labor" was no place to be. They also knew what they needed to do (especially since no one was there to come to their rescue other than God). . . they called out to the LORD for His deliverance.
This is a good word for us. Some of us might find ourselves in "bitter labor" for our sinful ways. God may have brought such difficulty in order to get our attention . . . so that we would surrender to Him. If there is a truth statement, it is that no one who chooses to follow the LORD in obedience later regrets such a decision; equally true is the statement that people who choose to rebel against the Lord ALWAYS regret such disobedience.
If we find ourselves in the slough of despondency, let us not continue there through perpetual rebellion. We must remember that God disciplines us so that "we might share in his holiness . . . . producing a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (see Hebrews 12:10-11). Let us "be trained" from God's discipline and turn from our wickedness back to His glorious Light. He will deliver us, for His love is unfailing (see Ps. 107:15).
As we reflect upon these verses, we find that God sometimes introduces "bitter labor" upon those who are acting in rebellion to His Sovereign will. And though this discipline is painful, it nevertheless is designed to draw the impenitent to a place of contrition, confession, and surrender to Him as Lord. Of course, this is not to coerce a person to capitulation simply because God is a tyrant who wants to dominate others; rather, God knows that we were created with the need to have intimate fellowship with Him. God also is Holy and is due all praise and obedience; thus, His creation was designed to exalt His Holiness. To do otherwise is to perpetrate that which is opposite to our original design and purpose . . . . This is cosmic treason at its worst!
Therefore, we know that when God brings discipline to us, it is to draw us back into intimate fellowship with Him. For the Israelites referenced above, they realized that their "bitter labor" was no place to be. They also knew what they needed to do (especially since no one was there to come to their rescue other than God). . . they called out to the LORD for His deliverance.
This is a good word for us. Some of us might find ourselves in "bitter labor" for our sinful ways. God may have brought such difficulty in order to get our attention . . . so that we would surrender to Him. If there is a truth statement, it is that no one who chooses to follow the LORD in obedience later regrets such a decision; equally true is the statement that people who choose to rebel against the Lord ALWAYS regret such disobedience.
If we find ourselves in the slough of despondency, let us not continue there through perpetual rebellion. We must remember that God disciplines us so that "we might share in his holiness . . . . producing a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (see Hebrews 12:10-11). Let us "be trained" from God's discipline and turn from our wickedness back to His glorious Light. He will deliver us, for His love is unfailing (see Ps. 107:15).
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Even the Mountains Respect the LORD
Zechariah 14:3-4,9: "Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley . . . . The LORD will be king over the whole earth. One that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name."
The prophet Zechariah was called by the LORD in 520 BC to herald the coming hope of the Savior, bringing deliverance to His people and establishing His reign over the earth. Like with his contemporary, Haggai, Zechariah was called by the LORD to encourage the Jewish people to rebuild the temple as a place of worship of the One True God. Even the name, Zechariah, means "Yahweh Remembers" . . . a name filled with hope for a people who had been in captivity to the Babylonians for 70 years.
One of the strategies to encourage the people was to interject the hope found in the coming of the LORD, who would establish His throne in the New Jerusalem for all eternity; whereas the people had been through much calamity, the LORD knew that their spirits would be uplifted as they focused upon their reclamation by the LORD, who would triumph over all evil and who would restore all things to their glorious perfection.
One of the telling passages is cited above, namely that when the Lord descends upon the Mount of Olives, east of the city of Jerusalem, the mountain will split with half of it moving northward and the other half moving southward. As one visualizes such an event, in light of the typography of the land, one can see the wonderful display of submission even by God's creation. For when the mountains split in the direction indicated by the Scriptures, they will open a corridor that will point toward the glorious city of Jerusalem. The King of Kings will move westward between the divided mountain and pass through the Kidron Valley on His way to the city, as the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven beautifully dressed in preparation for His advent (see Revelation 21:2). The LORD will then sit upon His eternal throne and He will dwell with the redeemed, making all things new, whole, and wonderful.
This is a good word of hope for those of us who have yielded ourselves to the Lord as the Savior and King of our lives. God has given to us the hope of this blessed event as a source of encouragement as we traverse this difficult life, filled with pain and disappointment. If you find yourself struggling in this life, then the LORD invites you to reflect upon His triumphal return, when He will restore all things to glorious perfection. Hopefully, this reflection will rekindle an appreciation and awe in you of the One True Lord, bringing you to the same state of surrendered obedience much like the mountains that will humble themselves with the coming of the LORD.
God is Sovereign. He is Eternal. And He will Restore. Blessed be the Name of the LORD!
The prophet Zechariah was called by the LORD in 520 BC to herald the coming hope of the Savior, bringing deliverance to His people and establishing His reign over the earth. Like with his contemporary, Haggai, Zechariah was called by the LORD to encourage the Jewish people to rebuild the temple as a place of worship of the One True God. Even the name, Zechariah, means "Yahweh Remembers" . . . a name filled with hope for a people who had been in captivity to the Babylonians for 70 years.
One of the strategies to encourage the people was to interject the hope found in the coming of the LORD, who would establish His throne in the New Jerusalem for all eternity; whereas the people had been through much calamity, the LORD knew that their spirits would be uplifted as they focused upon their reclamation by the LORD, who would triumph over all evil and who would restore all things to their glorious perfection.
One of the telling passages is cited above, namely that when the Lord descends upon the Mount of Olives, east of the city of Jerusalem, the mountain will split with half of it moving northward and the other half moving southward. As one visualizes such an event, in light of the typography of the land, one can see the wonderful display of submission even by God's creation. For when the mountains split in the direction indicated by the Scriptures, they will open a corridor that will point toward the glorious city of Jerusalem. The King of Kings will move westward between the divided mountain and pass through the Kidron Valley on His way to the city, as the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven beautifully dressed in preparation for His advent (see Revelation 21:2). The LORD will then sit upon His eternal throne and He will dwell with the redeemed, making all things new, whole, and wonderful.
This is a good word of hope for those of us who have yielded ourselves to the Lord as the Savior and King of our lives. God has given to us the hope of this blessed event as a source of encouragement as we traverse this difficult life, filled with pain and disappointment. If you find yourself struggling in this life, then the LORD invites you to reflect upon His triumphal return, when He will restore all things to glorious perfection. Hopefully, this reflection will rekindle an appreciation and awe in you of the One True Lord, bringing you to the same state of surrendered obedience much like the mountains that will humble themselves with the coming of the LORD.
God is Sovereign. He is Eternal. And He will Restore. Blessed be the Name of the LORD!
Monday, August 31, 2009
When Memory Loss is the Ultimate Loss
Psalm 106:12-14, 24-26: "They (the Israelites) believed His (God's) promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. . . . Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert."
If there is one episode that is referenced time and again in the Scriptures, it is the account of the children of Israel leaving Egypt for the promised land. Immediately following God's incredible display of power at the parting of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh and his mighty army, the Israelites were celebrating in dance and song. As they beat their tambourines, they gave praise to the LORD as the One highly exalted (literally "risen risenly").
But it was not long before these Israelites forgot who God was and His promises to them (in fact it was only three days until they started their grumbling for not having water in the desert). They permitted their circumstances to gain a foothold upon them, leading to their despondency. It was then that the true disposition of their hearts was revealed; they were a people more consumed with their own desires above being faithful to the One True Lord of Hosts.
In becoming angry with God and His servant Moses, they determined not to wait on the Lord to work His purposes through them; rather, they resolved within themselves to do what they believed to be expedient for themselves. This consumption with "self" eventually led to their craving of their own wanton lusts in direct defiance to the commands of the Lord. They became so enamored with their self-ladened debauchery that they would actually come to a point that they would "despise" the very Promised Land of blessing that the Lord had offered to them, provided that they would be surrendered to Him and obedient to His calling.
In the end, the LORD would remove his offering of the rich, fertile land of Palestine to them, since they did not want it. The LORD swore that He would have His people die in the wilderness, never being the beneficiaries of the very best that God wanted for them.
This is a tremendous word for us today. We must remember that life is not a continuous, spiritual euphoria; rather, it is one filled with wilderness travels that will test our faith. What we must remember is that our faith is strengthened through trial and tribulation. If we remain anchored by faith to the LORD in the midst of our difficulties, we will not follow a similar path of despondency that the Israelites traversed. Sadly, if we forsake the Lord, we will forsake His best for our lives (and eternity in His blessed Promised Land [i.e. Heaven]). We will follow our own selfish desires to the detriment of our calling . . . which is to be yielded to God as our Master and Savior. And we will find ourselves dying in the wilderness.
Let's be a people who trust in the Lord no matter the circumstance. Let's condescend our wills to His glorious will for our lives. And let's joyously await His very best for us . . . both now and for all eternity.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Celebrate, Petition, Share
Psalm 105:1-4: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always."
Here is the Biblical formula for the Christian:
First, thank the Lord! How often do we reflect upon the good things that the LORD has given to us? We all struggle with different burdens in life; but still, we can all find things for which we can be thankful, if we look hard enough. God is a giver of good things to His people. What we need to do is as the song rightfully suggests, "count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the LORD has done." Making a conscious decision to reorient our thinking to being grateful will help us break free from the bitterness and negativity that can creep into our lives, if we dwell upon the misfortunes that come our way.
We are also called to "call upon the name of the Lord (as we) look to the LORD and His strength." God has made us as dependent creatures. In no way can we live life as beings independent of the Lord's help and His deliverance. How often have we missed the blessings of the LORD simply because we failed to petition Him? Certainly, James tells us that we "do not have, because (we) do not ask" (James 4:2). Calling upon the Lord intimates that a person is not able in and of himself to solve all of life's situations. By approaching the throne of God, we acknowledge that we are desperately in need of His Sovereign involvement in every facet of our lives. Our petitions also remind us of our need ever to walk in a spirit of humility and awe in the One who holds everything together (Colossians 1:17). It is God alone who sustains all things, and He is to be worshipped exclusively and affectionately. To have a true reverence for the Lord, we must agree with the words found in Job: "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life . . . . If it were His intention and he withdrew His Spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust" (Job 33:4; 34:14-15). Without the LORD, we are dust.
When we are able to appreciate and celebrate the LORD with thanksgiving for His mighty works in our lives and when we recognize our utter dependence upon Him, then we are ready to share these truths with others. Evangelism is not come concocted coercion that we do because we feel obligated to appease the Lord; rather, true evangelism is shared from the overabundance of joy, thanksgiving, and marvel at our glorious Lord for who He is and what He has done for us. When we have been truly transformed by the Lord, we cannot help but share with others . . . it just seems to burst forth from us. We are not unlike the stones that if given the opportunity, would cry out, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (see Luke 19:37-40).
For those of us who have surrendered ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, let us faithfully follow the Lord in a spirit of thanksgiving, joy, and praise. Let us put our complete faith in His provision for us in all areas of our lives. And let the transforming power of the Holy Spirit burst forth from us so that others will take note. This is the way for the true believer in Christ to live.
Here is the Biblical formula for the Christian:
First, thank the Lord! How often do we reflect upon the good things that the LORD has given to us? We all struggle with different burdens in life; but still, we can all find things for which we can be thankful, if we look hard enough. God is a giver of good things to His people. What we need to do is as the song rightfully suggests, "count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the LORD has done." Making a conscious decision to reorient our thinking to being grateful will help us break free from the bitterness and negativity that can creep into our lives, if we dwell upon the misfortunes that come our way.
We are also called to "call upon the name of the Lord (as we) look to the LORD and His strength." God has made us as dependent creatures. In no way can we live life as beings independent of the Lord's help and His deliverance. How often have we missed the blessings of the LORD simply because we failed to petition Him? Certainly, James tells us that we "do not have, because (we) do not ask" (James 4:2). Calling upon the Lord intimates that a person is not able in and of himself to solve all of life's situations. By approaching the throne of God, we acknowledge that we are desperately in need of His Sovereign involvement in every facet of our lives. Our petitions also remind us of our need ever to walk in a spirit of humility and awe in the One who holds everything together (Colossians 1:17). It is God alone who sustains all things, and He is to be worshipped exclusively and affectionately. To have a true reverence for the Lord, we must agree with the words found in Job: "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life . . . . If it were His intention and he withdrew His Spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust" (Job 33:4; 34:14-15). Without the LORD, we are dust.
When we are able to appreciate and celebrate the LORD with thanksgiving for His mighty works in our lives and when we recognize our utter dependence upon Him, then we are ready to share these truths with others. Evangelism is not come concocted coercion that we do because we feel obligated to appease the Lord; rather, true evangelism is shared from the overabundance of joy, thanksgiving, and marvel at our glorious Lord for who He is and what He has done for us. When we have been truly transformed by the Lord, we cannot help but share with others . . . it just seems to burst forth from us. We are not unlike the stones that if given the opportunity, would cry out, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (see Luke 19:37-40).
For those of us who have surrendered ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, let us faithfully follow the Lord in a spirit of thanksgiving, joy, and praise. Let us put our complete faith in His provision for us in all areas of our lives. And let the transforming power of the Holy Spirit burst forth from us so that others will take note. This is the way for the true believer in Christ to live.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Don't Forget the Lord's Benefits
Psalm 103:1-5: "Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
The euphoria of true praise and worship is found in the overwhelming awareness of the immeasurable benefits that have been afforded to us through our great and gracious LORD, Jesus Christ.
In the above passage, the psalmist King David proclaims to his readers that the entirety of his inmost being is enthralled with worshipping the Lord; David cannot help but burst forth in celebrative applause and praise, as he becomes evermore aware of the amazing love of God that is lavished upon those who would surrender to Him as LORD.
Lest one would wonder that this euphoric demonstration of David is possibly a manipulated, emotional experience . . . where one works himself into an expressive encounter without substantive reasoning, David presents the explanation for his exuberance:
The LORD forgives my sins!
The LORD heals my diseases!
The LORD redeems life from the pit!
The LORD crowns with love and compassion!
The LORD satisfies our desires with good things! . . .
so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's.
When we begin to fathom the magnanimity of the Lord's forgiving our sins (accomplished solely through His own sacrifice on the cross coupled with His victory over sin and death through the resurrection), then we will not be able to help but burst forth with joyous praise. Because of sin, we are all due the fullest measure of God's retributive judgment for our cosmic treason against His holiness and rightful Lordship. God's sacrificing of Himself in the most cruel way (i.e. crucifixion) in order to protect us from His Divine wrath is so amazing. We simply must renounce any claims of our own lordship in favor of Him as our LORD and recognize His death and resurrection as the sufficient debt payment for our sins. His sacrifice is love at its finest!
The Lord heals our diseases! We know that infirmity and disability plague many in our world; and as many of us age, the prevalence of such diseases only increases. It truly is painful to watch a loved one struggle with such debilitating maladies as cancer, paralysis, or blindness. And to be sure, those who traverse these paths themselves often struggle with the chronic pain and limitation that come with such illnesses. Whereas we know that not all diseases may necessarily be healed in this lifetime, we know that our LORD will right all wrongs that have existed in this world. God is the Victor who reigns triumphantly over all things, and He can deliver those who have been burdened in this life. Because we have not experienced the fullness of eternity, we understandably are a bit myopic to this reality. We tend to struggle more with the realities of the few decades that we have to live in this fallen world, and we lose sight of the perfected, eternal life experience that God has prepared for those who surrender to Him as LORD. For the ones struggling with the limitations of this life, which are very real and very painful, their hope is to be found in the deliverance that is offered by our loving LORD. Truly this is reason to celebrate!
The LORD spares our lives from the pit. Scripture tells us much about the reality of hell, as being a place of torment, judgment, darkness, and most importantly . . . the absence of the LORD. It is a place to which no one wants to go; in fact, the Scriptures tell us that the angels will have to force the reprobate through its perilous gates (see Matthew 13:41-42). That God would spare us this fate, because of our sins against Him, again is the cause to celebrate. His mercies are beyond measure and are everlasting (Psalm 100:5 [KJV]).
The LORD crowns our lives with love and compassion. Not only does the LORD spare the redeemed from the despicable condition of hell, but He showers us with His love and compassion. One of the greatest evidences of this will be found in eternity. It is not as if the LORD will grant us permission to enter Heaven, but relegate us to some obscure corner of paradise, to be shunned as ones who don't deserve His eternal blessings. Rather, God has promised to adopt us as sons and daughters . . . in effect granting us the full privileges of being part of the royal family (see Ephesians 1:5). It is because of His grace that we are reckoned with such a place of eternal honor; it will be an experience to die for . . . at least it was an experience so incredible that God was willing to die for it. And though we may struggle with our mortality, we will find that when we walk into the blessedness of eternity with our LORD, death will be seen a glorious fate, giving us entrance into the grandest expression of life.
The LORD will satisfy our desires with good things. God is infinitely wise. He knows best what will bless our souls, and He regularly showers us with good things in life, even though there may be times that we don't recognize such blessings. And again, God is waiting to pour our upon us the VERY BEST things, when we come before His throne in a spirit of humility and obedience.
We may find ourselves struggling with the bitter winters found in this life's experience, but we know that we will encounter the greatest renaissance (re-birth) through His redemption. The fullest vigor of life, even beyond anything that we have encountered in this life, will be poured out upon us so that we will be renewed like the eagle. We know that the eagle can become tired, but his strength is restored as he floats upon the uplifting winds that carry him great distances with virtually no effort. This imagery was used by the prophet Isaiah in his Divinely-inspired Words 300 years after the psalmist, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31). What is fascinating with these passages is the similarity of the Hebrew word for "Holy Spirit" and "wind." It is the Holy Spirit, our Sustainer and Comforter, that supports us through this life and provides us with much needed rest while we await His raising our bodies into glorious perfection (Romans 8:11) . . . what beautiful paralleled imagery to the wind that carries the eagle effortlessly through the skies, giving it opportunity to enjoy the freedom of rest, while it soars in the highest heights.
We could go on and on with the benefits of the LORD. But at this point, we can know that there are many blessings from the LORD and they are absolutely incredible! Let us reflect upon these benefits often; for when we do, we will find ourselves erupting in celebrative praise for our LORD, who is worthy of our worship. He is a great God . . . and most assuredly He is good to us beyond measure!
The euphoria of true praise and worship is found in the overwhelming awareness of the immeasurable benefits that have been afforded to us through our great and gracious LORD, Jesus Christ.
In the above passage, the psalmist King David proclaims to his readers that the entirety of his inmost being is enthralled with worshipping the Lord; David cannot help but burst forth in celebrative applause and praise, as he becomes evermore aware of the amazing love of God that is lavished upon those who would surrender to Him as LORD.
Lest one would wonder that this euphoric demonstration of David is possibly a manipulated, emotional experience . . . where one works himself into an expressive encounter without substantive reasoning, David presents the explanation for his exuberance:
The LORD forgives my sins!
The LORD heals my diseases!
The LORD redeems life from the pit!
The LORD crowns with love and compassion!
The LORD satisfies our desires with good things! . . .
so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's.
When we begin to fathom the magnanimity of the Lord's forgiving our sins (accomplished solely through His own sacrifice on the cross coupled with His victory over sin and death through the resurrection), then we will not be able to help but burst forth with joyous praise. Because of sin, we are all due the fullest measure of God's retributive judgment for our cosmic treason against His holiness and rightful Lordship. God's sacrificing of Himself in the most cruel way (i.e. crucifixion) in order to protect us from His Divine wrath is so amazing. We simply must renounce any claims of our own lordship in favor of Him as our LORD and recognize His death and resurrection as the sufficient debt payment for our sins. His sacrifice is love at its finest!
The Lord heals our diseases! We know that infirmity and disability plague many in our world; and as many of us age, the prevalence of such diseases only increases. It truly is painful to watch a loved one struggle with such debilitating maladies as cancer, paralysis, or blindness. And to be sure, those who traverse these paths themselves often struggle with the chronic pain and limitation that come with such illnesses. Whereas we know that not all diseases may necessarily be healed in this lifetime, we know that our LORD will right all wrongs that have existed in this world. God is the Victor who reigns triumphantly over all things, and He can deliver those who have been burdened in this life. Because we have not experienced the fullness of eternity, we understandably are a bit myopic to this reality. We tend to struggle more with the realities of the few decades that we have to live in this fallen world, and we lose sight of the perfected, eternal life experience that God has prepared for those who surrender to Him as LORD. For the ones struggling with the limitations of this life, which are very real and very painful, their hope is to be found in the deliverance that is offered by our loving LORD. Truly this is reason to celebrate!
The LORD spares our lives from the pit. Scripture tells us much about the reality of hell, as being a place of torment, judgment, darkness, and most importantly . . . the absence of the LORD. It is a place to which no one wants to go; in fact, the Scriptures tell us that the angels will have to force the reprobate through its perilous gates (see Matthew 13:41-42). That God would spare us this fate, because of our sins against Him, again is the cause to celebrate. His mercies are beyond measure and are everlasting (Psalm 100:5 [KJV]).
The LORD crowns our lives with love and compassion. Not only does the LORD spare the redeemed from the despicable condition of hell, but He showers us with His love and compassion. One of the greatest evidences of this will be found in eternity. It is not as if the LORD will grant us permission to enter Heaven, but relegate us to some obscure corner of paradise, to be shunned as ones who don't deserve His eternal blessings. Rather, God has promised to adopt us as sons and daughters . . . in effect granting us the full privileges of being part of the royal family (see Ephesians 1:5). It is because of His grace that we are reckoned with such a place of eternal honor; it will be an experience to die for . . . at least it was an experience so incredible that God was willing to die for it. And though we may struggle with our mortality, we will find that when we walk into the blessedness of eternity with our LORD, death will be seen a glorious fate, giving us entrance into the grandest expression of life.
The LORD will satisfy our desires with good things. God is infinitely wise. He knows best what will bless our souls, and He regularly showers us with good things in life, even though there may be times that we don't recognize such blessings. And again, God is waiting to pour our upon us the VERY BEST things, when we come before His throne in a spirit of humility and obedience.
We may find ourselves struggling with the bitter winters found in this life's experience, but we know that we will encounter the greatest renaissance (re-birth) through His redemption. The fullest vigor of life, even beyond anything that we have encountered in this life, will be poured out upon us so that we will be renewed like the eagle. We know that the eagle can become tired, but his strength is restored as he floats upon the uplifting winds that carry him great distances with virtually no effort. This imagery was used by the prophet Isaiah in his Divinely-inspired Words 300 years after the psalmist, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31). What is fascinating with these passages is the similarity of the Hebrew word for "Holy Spirit" and "wind." It is the Holy Spirit, our Sustainer and Comforter, that supports us through this life and provides us with much needed rest while we await His raising our bodies into glorious perfection (Romans 8:11) . . . what beautiful paralleled imagery to the wind that carries the eagle effortlessly through the skies, giving it opportunity to enjoy the freedom of rest, while it soars in the highest heights.
We could go on and on with the benefits of the LORD. But at this point, we can know that there are many blessings from the LORD and they are absolutely incredible! Let us reflect upon these benefits often; for when we do, we will find ourselves erupting in celebrative praise for our LORD, who is worthy of our worship. He is a great God . . . and most assuredly He is good to us beyond measure!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Be Excited About Your Worship
Psalm 98:2-6: "The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-shout for joy before the LORD, the King."
If there is any group of people who should be utterly ecstatic in their faith, it would be the true followers of Jesus Christ. When this people truly come to realize the true benefits that have been lavished upon them from the Sovereign Lord, they will not be able to help but rise up in celebration to praise the Lord of Hosts. It is a necessary consequence of those who have experienced the redemption of the Lord and who grasp the magnanimity of such grace.
These followers of Christ also recognize that the Lord is the One True King, who is worthy of worship. They will rise to the occasion to honor the Savior, because He is majestic in His holiness and is due our shouts of praise (though we are not worthy in and of ourselves to offer worship to the LORD . . . to be given the opportunity to worship the LORD is a privilege granted to us from the Almighty)!
Now, how often have we seen attendees in churches participating in a formality of worship without demonstrating their sincerest appreciation for the love and redemption of the Lord? Whereas we know that people have differing personality dispositions, still we should expect that a redeemed people rise to the occasion to celebrate the Lord. If one sees personal and corporate worship as an obtrusive inconvenience and drudgery to be quickly shuffled off in order to move on to more important matters, then that person does not appreciate the full significance of God's position as Lord and King as well as the amazing grace that He has offered to us.
If we find ourselves in a state of spiritual lethargy, let us not forget the words of the Psalmist in chapter 100: "Shout for joy to the LORD . . . worship with gladness and come before Him with joyful songs." Why? "For the Lord is God who made us and own us." "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; giving thanks to Him and praising His name." Why? "For the LORD is good, His mercy and love is everlasting, and His faithfulness continues through all generations."
Never forget the greatness of God and His goodness to us. Rise up in a spirit of awe, joy, and celebration to praise the LORD!
If there is any group of people who should be utterly ecstatic in their faith, it would be the true followers of Jesus Christ. When this people truly come to realize the true benefits that have been lavished upon them from the Sovereign Lord, they will not be able to help but rise up in celebration to praise the Lord of Hosts. It is a necessary consequence of those who have experienced the redemption of the Lord and who grasp the magnanimity of such grace.
These followers of Christ also recognize that the Lord is the One True King, who is worthy of worship. They will rise to the occasion to honor the Savior, because He is majestic in His holiness and is due our shouts of praise (though we are not worthy in and of ourselves to offer worship to the LORD . . . to be given the opportunity to worship the LORD is a privilege granted to us from the Almighty)!
Now, how often have we seen attendees in churches participating in a formality of worship without demonstrating their sincerest appreciation for the love and redemption of the Lord? Whereas we know that people have differing personality dispositions, still we should expect that a redeemed people rise to the occasion to celebrate the Lord. If one sees personal and corporate worship as an obtrusive inconvenience and drudgery to be quickly shuffled off in order to move on to more important matters, then that person does not appreciate the full significance of God's position as Lord and King as well as the amazing grace that He has offered to us.
If we find ourselves in a state of spiritual lethargy, let us not forget the words of the Psalmist in chapter 100: "Shout for joy to the LORD . . . worship with gladness and come before Him with joyful songs." Why? "For the Lord is God who made us and own us." "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; giving thanks to Him and praising His name." Why? "For the LORD is good, His mercy and love is everlasting, and His faithfulness continues through all generations."
Never forget the greatness of God and His goodness to us. Rise up in a spirit of awe, joy, and celebration to praise the LORD!
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