Among our phobias, fear of the unknown, or of something that overpowers or overcomes us, or of our own death are prominent. David said that God was his “light” (exposing the unknown), his “strength” (empowering and supplying his need) and his salvation (saving him from death). In this way God gave him faith in the place of fear. What do you fear today? Replace your fears with faith. Look to a specific character trait of the Lord and choose to focus on Him rather than living in fear.
Josiah became king when he was eight years old. His father and his grandfather before him were wicked and idolatrous kings, but he decided to seek the Lord. He made his decision to follow God while “he was still young,” and the Lord blessed him and the Kingdom of Judah all the days of his life. Like Josiah, my father died when I was eight. In my grief and despair I sought the Lord and He saved me. I walked the aisle in a church in Wayne, Michigan that we attended while staying for a time with my mother’s sister. I went forward at the church’s special children’s service and received Christ as Savior and Lord. Some might think that a child aged eight is too young. But like Josiah, I have also known God’s blessing on my life and that of my family. Seek the Lord while you are still young and encourage your children and grandchildren to do the same.
In Paul’s closing remarks to the church in Rome, he shared his prayer that the Lord allow him to visit them. He prayed that he might come to them with joy so that both might be mutually refreshed. There is an encouragement that refreshes us when we fellowship with other believers in the joy of the Lord. We have had this prayer answered as we visited our brothers and sisters in London this past week. It had been our heart’s desire for some time to visit and know this mutual refreshment. And God finally made it possible. Do you know this fellowship that refreshes?
Today’s constant prayer: Show me, teach me, lead me… I’m waiting. Not passively, but actively. Not without moving, but as I move today, being fully present looking for You, O Lord.
One can have ears and eyes, yet still be deaf and blind. The Lord has made both the physical and the spiritual ability to hear. Both are grace. The physical all understand, but few recognize the spiritual. The first offers wisdom of the physical world, the second makes one receptive to the gospel and believing. One is not the other. Only God makes the “hearing ear” and the “seeing eye.” This was God’s calling to Paul and to us: “I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18-19).
Spiritual and gospel urgency. Spiritual urgency, because we must put off sin and any hindrance that belongs to the flesh, so that we might finish the race of life well. Gospel urgency, because “time is running out” on those who haven’t heard and received the Good News that we are called to announce. Are you living with a sense of spiritual and gospel urgency?
Paul described the state of mind that the believer should maintain. In this verse, he focused on our thinking towards others. Be “same-minded,” but not “high-minded.” Be careful not to think of yourself more highly than others. Be willing to “associate” with those of humble status, instead of rushing to be with the popular and important. Stop being a know-it-all. One who has this state of mind, has been “transformed by the renewing of their mind,” so that they have the mind of Christ. What’s your state of mind today?
David wrote this Messianic psalm that predicted not only what Christ would say on the cross but the manner of His death as well. Centuries before the Romans devised the torture of crucifixion, David described it in this psalm. Jesus, the Son of David took our place. He took our sin, our separation, and our death. He offers us His righteousness, His relationship with the Father and eternal life. He that had never experienced a moment of separation from the Father was forsaken for our sakes. So, He cried out in anguish, fulfilling the Scripture and expressing His real agony. Yet, the Father raised Him up, and in the same way He shall raise up all those who believe in Him in the Last Day.
True faith needs an object as its anchor. It’s not the amount, nor the quality of faith that matters so much. It’s the reality of the object and its quality that counts. It is the gospel, God’s Word that saves. And it is hearing and believing this Word that brings salvation. Our faith is activated by hearing the Word. And it is by continual and constant hearing that we grow in faith. Yet, all this requires a preacher. And a God who calls and sends.
King Jehoshaphat began his reign well by sending out teachers of God’s Word to teach all the people of Judah. Jehoshaphat took delight in the Lord and led his people to follow Him. And so, the fear of the Lord fell on the surrounding peoples so that they didn’t attack Judah, but instead brought tribute and gifts. How important it is for a leader (king, president, pastor, or parent) to teach those under their care the Word of God. A nation or family grounded in God’s Word will prosper. One that departs from it will end up like King Ahab who did not heed the Word of the Lord.