God Takes Care of Us

I noticed something in my studies today.  It's in Psalm 68:19 which says, 

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."  NIV

The same verse in KJV reads like this, 

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

A couple of other translations for you to consider,

"Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms."  NLT

"Blessed be the Lord: day by day doth he load us with good, the God who is our salvation."  Darby

I am confident the intent of the text here, regardless of which translation we may be reading,  we have a God who is taking care of us.  

God's provision can be seen primarily in creation.  For Adam and Eve, God provided everything they needed to make their lives comfortable and happy.  We know problems started to happen when sin entered the picture, and mankind  suffered the consequences.  But even with God's perfect creation being marred by sin, he didn't stop loving or providing for his people. 

God's complaining chosen people in the wilderness, preferring to go back into slavery, were constant recipients of blessing after blessing.  Throughout the Old Testament we see sinful people choosing to follow after idols instead of God, but he was always there to rescue them and deliver them in time of need.  Isaiah the prophet told God's children saying, God would be with them regardless of whatever difficulty they faced. (Isaiah 42:2-3)

It is no wonder then, when we come to the New Testament, Jesus, the Savior of the world, came to the end of his earthly ministry with the words, "I will be with you always."

Now that we have established and believe in a providing God, it should make a difference in the way we conduct ourselves in life. Do we live with the confidence that God is with us always?  Can we testify that he bears our burdens? Do we recognize daily that God "loads us with benefits?"

Think back to the Christmas season of this past year.  Have you opened all your presents? Are there still some wrapped under your tree? How would you feel if you purchased a gift for some loved one, and learned it had not been opened? God gives us gifts for our use to bless other lives and build up the body of Christ.  Those gifts are worthless until we use them for his glory.

We pray, God, thank you for your provision and care for us. We know you love us and bless us with those gifts which help us bring glory to you. Continue to "daily load us with benefits(gifts)" that we can use in service to you and our fellow man.  Continue to carry our burdens.  Thank you for Jesus and the salvation he brings.  In his name, Amen."

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Of Politics and God

" For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."  2 Chronicles 16:9

Are you enjoying the political speeches that fill our news networks lately?  Regardless of which candidate you support, you will find he or she has opposition which is sometimes more vocal than your choice.  We wonder where they come up with all the accusations against the opponents while trying to make promises to the voting public.

Deals are made in private, which will include events from a candidate's past, in hopes voters will be outraged about problems they encountered in their previous political year.  Or, maybe they said something in support of an issue at one time, but now are promoting a totally opposite stance on the issue.   You have heard the arguments, the strategies and the promises if "you elect me!"   I have come to believe the politicians will say anything to get elected, then we learn they had no intention in keeping the promises  they made during their campaigns.

You think something like that is new to our world?  Think again.......it was even going on in the days described in the Bible.  2 Chronicles 16 gives us a glimpse into such political strategy that included the pledging of gold and silver to a leader, if only he would break the treaty he had with another leader.  The problem all these kings failed to see is one that is still with us today.  We continue to hear of "back room deals" from our elected officials, which will strategize Mr. A with Mr. B, even though Mr. B already has an  agreement with Mr. C which would prevent Mr. A and Mr. B from being on friendly terms.  It's no wonder the entire political scheme is so difficult to understand.

One thing is abundantly clear.  For the most part, God doesn't fit into the thinking and planning of our political future.

Back to the information from 2 Chronicles, the problem they all seemed to share during the task of defeating the opponent, was putting the spotlight on themselves.  Their actions and planning didn't take into consideration the ways of God.  How contemporary is that?  All the bargains, all the treaties, all the promises were aimed at promoting self. 

Then comes the eye-opening revelation of verse 9. " For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

My political summary is simple.  Stop relying on the ways of man.  No matter how pretty the picture and the message they portray, reliance on any person to be the answer to our dilemma is futile.  Why would we need anything or anyone besides the strength from God which is promised to those whose hearts are fully committed to him?

Being the people of God doing the things of God will bring success in our future of being a Godly nation.

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You will be amazed

How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
³ Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
⁴ Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted.

(The Lord's Answer)

⁵ “Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told."

                                                            Habakkuk 1:2-5

Have you ever reached the point where you cried out in prayer to God, "How long do I have to call out to you?  How many prayers must I pray?  How many tears must I shed?  How much pleading does it take?"

In the writings of most of the prophets, it's relatively easy to determine God's message for the people, and the encouragement for them to continue trusting and loving God.  When we come to the minor prophet, Habakkuk, we are given the picture of a people who have been praying, crying out to God because of all the evil that surrounded them. In spite of their pleas, it seemed as though God was not willing to do anything to help.  Had he grown indifferent toward their prayers?  Was he condoning the wrongdoing and violence?  The situation is summed up in the latter part of verse 4, "The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted."

God's answer was there, and it was close.  Some think God had not already answered their prayers for help because they needed to learn to trust him, no matter what the circumstances. That part is not clear to me, and I keep being reminded of the scripture that lets me know about God's thoughts and ways are far above the thoughts and ways of finite mankind.  The thing Habakkuk's audience needed to learn, and we need to learn, is that God is still in control, just as he has always been and will be in control.  Look again at verse 5.  “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."

Hear the word of the Lord for you.....when you think God is withholding the answers you seek and need. God wants us to know he is still in control for us, too.  God is saying he has plans for us and he will be with us with unbelievable things, to bring about his good will.  Continue to love and trust him. What he has in store for you is amazing.  It's true, God says, "You will be utterly amazed."

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Under Vows to God

Take a couple minutes and read Psalm 56. It's only 13 verses long but it contains some principles by which our lives will be enriched. This is a Psalm written by David during a time when he was in fear because he was being captured by the Philistines. 

David cries out to God, "Be merciful to me."  He was under attack. There were men in hot pursuit and their success in making the capture was imminent. We can put ourselves in David's shoes and understand his fear.

Notice several items David teaches us as his cry to God reveals fear. 

1.  From verses 3 and 4, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"  See the transition being made during David's prayer?  He confesses his fear which triggers his trust in God. He goes from saying, "I am afraid, so I will trust in God;" to " I trust in God, so I am not afraid." David finds strength and confidence in knowing mortal men can do nothing to him.

David knows he is dealing with those who twist his words and use them to cause him harm. He knows men are conspiring for his death.  His prayer is for God to deal with these enemies. His confidence is that the enemies will turn away because David is calling for God's help.  Here is some good advice for us. When faced with the evil which men can do to us, or attempt against us, it's God that can bring positive results from the negative actions and words of others.  David know this is God, who is on his side. He knows this is God, whose words he praises. God is his help, his strength, so what can men do to him?

2.  From verses 12 and 13, "I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life."  Repeat over and over the first part of verse 12. "I am under vows to you, O God." The events in which we find ourselves making wrong decisions would have right outcomes if we paused just long enough to base our decisions on that statement David made. It should be our statement, too. "I am under vows to you, O God." That places David and us in a position to offer thankful praise.

  

David knew God as his deliverer, because God had delivered him from death.  We, too, know of God's deliverance and his promises to be with us every step of our journey.  David knew it was God who kept him from stumbling, and when we realize that, our spiritual stumbles and failures will be turned into victories.

David praises God because he allows David to "walk before God in the light of life." It works that way for us, too.  We who are under vows to God, share with David in the confidence that God walks with us.

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Ready to Run

If you are familiar with Hebrews, Chapter 11, you know why this is called "the faith chapter" in your Bible.  After some teaching about what faith is, and how it works in a Christian's life, there follows a list of those Biblical characters who lived lives of faith.  Read the chapter and see how many names you can remember, and all of them were humans like you and me, yet they overcame some difficulty or problem and remained faithful to God. If we are believers in Bible truth, it's no wonder Hebrews 12 begins with the encouragement for us to get rid of all hindrances and be ready to "run the race" set before us.

I have written on this section of scripture in previous blogs, and used a phrase describing the opening of Chapter 12 being the Bible's "pep rally."  The stage has been set with the faith chapter, and the roll call of the faithful, and now the writer is telling us to get ready for the race; the actual activity of being faithful followers of Jesus.

But, wait.....Let's look a little more closely at the opening to Chapter 12:

  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."   Hebrews 12:1-2a

We might be so pumped up we overlook something here.  Perhaps we are thinking of all those examples of faithful from Chapter 11, we jump the gun when we come to Chapter 12, failing to see the directives of the Hebrew writer.  He writes using phrases like, " let us throw off everything that hinders" and " the sin that so easily entangles."  Are we reading that right when the pep rally to spur us into starting our race actually begins with directives for us to do something else.

These verses are telling us before we can start our race we must get rid of everything that hinders or keeps us from successfully running our race.  This is the call for us to deal with sin in our lives because they will hinder us in the race.

It is only when we "throw off" the hindrances and sin in our own lives that we can run the race with perseverance.  Not only that, our eyes will need to be fixed on Jesus because he is the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  Our race, yours and mine, are not a race of competition.  We are running our own individual race these verses tell us, are marked out for us.

Be very aware of "everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles."  Remember, Satan is your adversary.  He is a liar.  He will do anything to keep you from running the race.  He wants you to violate your faith and devotion to the Lord.  The solution is to fix your eyes on Jesus.  He is the pioneer and the perfecter of your faith.   

All warmed up?  Let's run.

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Becoming a model

I quote from Jim Cymbala often.  If you run across one of his books or videos, you will be blessed in absorbing the biblical truths he shares from the Word of God.  Today I picked up one of his older writings and he was teaching from 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7.  Following the verses is a list of the things we can learn from the message we welcome.

"You welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.  And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia."

When you consider God's message of love and forgiveness, along with his willingness to forgive our sins, what comes to your mind concerning your status with God?  Do you believe him?  Are you obedient to his commands?  Do you enjoy a vibrant and living relationship with him?

Here's the list:

1.  All our sins have been completely erased by the blood of Jesus.

2.  There is no record of even one transgression against us by our Holy God.

3.   Our names have been written in the Lamb's book of life.

4.  Jesus has gone to prepare a place where we can spend eternity with him.

5.  Our Lord has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

6.  God has given the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and his Word to guide us.

7.  God has promised to supply our needs and hear us when we pray.

Maybe you can add to Cymbala's list.  Our God so abundantly blesses us and loves us a complete list would be impossible to make.  There is no doubt that God loves you and me, and desires that we live our lives in fulfilling his plan for us. 

Read the list again, and thank God for every blessing we have in Jesus Christ.  Then, become a model to all believers.  You will be abundantly blessed.

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Really Knowing Jesus

I probably should spend more time reading from those who wrote what we have come to know as the "Christian Classics," and while I do that occasionally, I know I am robbed of learning from those who lived and walked the journey of faith before me.  Recently I picked up a little book by Andrew Murray, who was from South Africa and lived from 1828-1917.

The book is called "The Secret of God's Love."   Maybe it was the title that made me scan through its contents and a few of the chapters.  I immediately recognized the entire book is based on Jesus' parable from John 15 where he began by making the claim, "I am the true vine."  Mr. Murray insists there is a great mystery involved when we grasp the biblical truth about the vine.  Look at the first paragraph of the book:

"All earthly things are shadows of heavenly realities.  They are the express, in created, visible forms, of God's invisible glory.  The Life and the Truth are in heaven. On earth, we have figures and shadows of these heavenly truths.  When Jesus says, 'I am the true Vine,' He tells us that all the vines of the earth are pictures and emblems of Himself.  He is the divine reality, of which they are created expression. They all point to Him, preach Him, and reveal Him.  If you want to know Jesus, study the vine."

I am hoping your mind wandered to the gardens you have grown, maybe some of them this summer.  Where I live, the degree of success on a person's garden is measured by the size and the quality of the tomatoes he produces.  While I have no claim to successful gardening, I have grown a few tomato plants.  Most of what I recall is the process of getting the soil ready, selecting the right type of tomato to grow, finding healthy young plants, the planting, fertilizing, watering, nurturing, and everything I have left out, all make simple tomato production everything but simple.

Of course there are other obstacles such as the deer in this area that love tomatoes and their vines, or there are bugs that attack the plant and its fruit, making the process of production even more difficult.  But the trained and experienced gardener tends to the plants from beginning to end.  A good tomato crop demands time and work. 

Thinking about these experiences, I cannot keep from going back to Andrew Murray's assessment and encouragement to us, "if you want to know Jesus, study the vine."   I am game.  I want to know Jesus, so I want to know more and more about the vine. 

Murray suggests four points as a beginning of understanding the vine.  We may do some expanding on them in future writings, but for now, here are his points.  1. The study of the vine can be better understood when we make a comparison to see the likenesses of the heavenly vine to the earthly vine.  2.  The vine is the living Lord, who is willing to do his work on the youthful plants (that's you and me) to bring them to the production of fruit.  3.  Give yourself entirely  to the vine through surrendering all to his will and his way.  4. When we learn from the vine, we are learning from God with all his power and wisdom, but we are also learning from the God-man, Jesus who longs to give us real life. 

Now read the parable in its entirety from John 15, and see how much you can learn. 

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