Weekly Devotion 2.27.2011

God's Goodness to Us

Psalm 4.6-8

"There are many who say, 'Who will show us any good?'  Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.  You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.  I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Have you ever thought how blessed you are to be able to lie down at night and not have to worry about if you will awake in the morning?  Or if your table will be filled with food?  Or if your country will be overthrown?  We have so much to be thankful for, especially in the safety and prosperity of our nation.  Yet rarely do we cease our everyday activities for even a moment and consider God's goodness to us.  We complain about trivial affairs but forget the triviality of our everyday affairs.

The Psalmist recognized this.  He proclaims that the LORD "[makes him] dwell in safety."  Therefore he can "both lie down in peace, and sleep."  The Psalmist provides us a vital perspective on life in general:  in whatever we do, stop and remember what the Lord has provided.  The next time the fast food restaurant mixes up your order, be thankful that you have an order to mix up.  Or if your car breaks down, remember you have a car.  These things should reciprocate our daily frustrations with an attitude of "gladness in [our hearts]."  

Think about all God has done for you and does for you each day.  When you are down in despair, remember His faithful hand.  Recall His goodness all the day long.  We truly are "walking in heavenly sunlight," as the old hymn goes.  And regardless of whether these physical blessings cease, we recall that our spiritual blessings are of infinitely more worth.  We have Christ's salvation, and alone is worth thanking God every day!  

Weekly Devotion 2.14.2011

Love on a Binder

Psa 63:1-8 NLT - [1] A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. [2] I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. [3] Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! [4] I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. [5] You satisfy me more than the richest of foods. I will praise you with songs of joy. [6] I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. [7] I think how much you have helped me; I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings. [8] I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

I once heard someone discussing a sermon they heard which underscored the point that the love we have for God ought to possess the same sort of giddiness and passion of a schoolboy/girl crush.  I thought about this a bit.  Middle school girls often scribble the name of their beloved onto binders, daydreaming of being with the one they want to be with.  It is not often love, merely infatuation, but the passion is nonetheless a property which is bound to both love and infatuation.  With infatuation it is merely a passing state.  With love, it is a powerful bonding relationship.

King David's writing of Psalm 63 reflects such an attitude of romanticism.  His love for God is so strong that his "soul thirsts for him; his whole body longs for him."  The love of God is so strong to him that "God's unfailing love is better to him than life itself."  Now, I know not many men who would wish the love of God more than he wishes his life.  At least, not completely.  There are many men working to such a state, but very few of us, I should think, have reached the composure of Saint Paul: "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far" (Phil. 1.23b).  And yet that is how great the greatness of God is.  It kept the psalmist up at night.  He "lies awake thinking of God, meditating on him through the night."  Such a man desires God more than he desires bread or even physical life itself.  Oh, that we may have such a love!

Oh, that our passion of God would be such that we are enveloped in an eternal infatuation and love with our Lord Jesus Christ.  That we would wish to write His name a thousand times a day for a thousand ages because we love Him so much!  Let us love God to the fullest extent.  He desires it of us.  He wants you to run into His arms.  He wants you to be obsessed with Him.  He is life itself:  "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil. 1.21).  

Love on a Binder

Psa 63:1-8 NLT - [1] A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. [2] I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. [3] Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! [4] I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. [5] You satisfy me more than the richest of foods. I will praise you with songs of joy. [6] I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. [7] I think how much you have helped me; I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings. [8] I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

I once heard someone discussing a sermon they heard which underscored the point that the love we have for God ought to possess the same sort of giddiness and passion of a schoolboy/girl crush. I thought about this a bit. Middle school girls often scribble the name of their beloved onto binders, daydreaming of being with the one they want to be with. It is not often love, merely infatuation, but the passion is nonetheless a property which is bound to both love and infatuation. With infatuation it is merely a passing state. With love, it is a powerful bonding relationship.

King David’s writing of Psalm 63 reflects such an attitude of romanticism. His love for God is so strong that his “soul thirsts for him; his whole body longs for him.” The love of God is so strong to him that “God’s unfailing love is better to him than life itself.” Now, I know not many men who would wish the love of God more than he wishes his life. At least, not completely. There are many men working to such a state, but very few of us, I should think, have reached the composure of Saint Paul: “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Phil. 1.23b). And yet that is how great the greatness of God is. It kept the psalmist up at night. He “lies awake thinking of God, meditating on him through the night.” Such a man desires God more than he desires bread or even physical life itself. Oh, that we may have such a love!

Oh, that our passion of God would be such that we are enveloped in an eternal infatuation and love with our Lord Jesus Christ. That we would wish to write His name a thousand times a day for a thousand ages because we love Him so much! Let us love God to the fullest extent. He desires it of us. He wants you to run into His arms. He wants you to be obsessed with Him. He is life itself: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil. 1.21).

The Lord Provides

The Lord Provides

Gen 24:12-15, 62-67 NLT - [12] "O LORD, God of my master," he prayed. "Give me success and show kindness to my master, Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey. [13] See, here I am, standing beside this spring, and the young women of the village are coming out to draw water. [14] This is my request. I will ask one of them for a drink. If she says, `Yes, certainly, and I will water your camels, too!'--let her be the one you have appointed as Isaac's wife. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." [15] As he was still praying, a young woman named Rebekah arrived with a water jug on her shoulder. Her father was Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. ... [62] Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahairoi. [63] One evening as he was taking a walk out in the fields, meditating, he looked up and saw the camels coming. [64] When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted. [65] "Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?" she asked the servant. And he replied, "It is my master." So Rebekah covered her face with her veil. [66] Then the servant told Isaac the whole story. [67] And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother's tent, and she became his wife. He loved her very much, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.

Genesis 24 brings us the lover story of Isaac and Rebekah. In it, God’s provision to Abraham and his son Isaac clearly demonstrates the faithfulness of the Lord to His people. The servant’s prayer is simple, yet clear: “Give me success and show kindness to my master. This is my request. I will ask one of [the young women] for a drink. If she says, `Yes, certainly, and I will water your camels, too!'--let her be the one you have appointed as Isaac's wife.” The response is exactly as the servant prays. Rebekah’s obedient and generous heart wins her not only a special place in the covenant of God’s chosen people, but a place in God’s will.

The story of Isaac and Rebekah ought to remind us of the provision of our Lord. Many see this story as being true only because of the extraordinary circumstances of this period in history. “Oh, that was Isaac, the son of Abraham! Of course God would listen to him, but not to me.” But this defeated attitude reveals a lack of faith and trust in the Lord’s promises. Our Lord says to "[k]eep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened” (Mat. 7.7). The Lord promises to meet our needs! Yes, yours! Be your need immense or miniscule, God hears and answers the cries of His children. Just as He provided for Isaac, so too can He and will He provide for you. We need only ask.