In Psalm 57, David is writing on the run. He has just escaped Saul from whom he has been running for quite a long time already.When we read the accounts of this part of David's life, it doesn't seem like it was very long. But he was on the run for about 15 years!
David knew that God had appointed him to be the next king of Israel. He knew God's big plan, but didn't always understand what God was doing that day.
Isn't it the same way when we are going through difficult times?
We know that God has a plan. We know that He is trustworthy.
But how am I going to get through today?
Read this psalm and look at what David did.
He didn't deny the problems. He didn't try to solve the problem.
He focused on God.
Look at his description of God:
God is merciful.
God protects.
God hears prayer.
God has a plan and will fulfill it.
God will deliver.
God will show His unlimited mercy and unlimited faithfulness.
God will be exalted and glorified.
In the midst of trials, it's very easy to look at ourselves and have a pity party. But that's not helpful.
Rather, we need to look at God.
Make a list of His attributes.
Add to that list how you've seen them in your life - even in the last week.
Don't let Satan obscure your vision of God by directing your focus to yourself.
Showing posts with label God's attributes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's attributes. Show all posts
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
God Chooses Not to Remember
We often complain about forgetting things. We forget names. We forget birthdays. We forget last week's sermon.
And then we throw in the "old-age-excuse." We used to remember things better, but not anymore.
But there are many things that we choose not to forget.
We choose not to forget when someone has offended us.
We choose not to forget that someone lied to us.
We choose not to forget someone's moral failure.
We choose to hold on to those events and become skeptical, critical, bitter and unforgiving.
But God is not that way.
"Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD" (Psalm 25:7).
God chooses not to dwell on my sins. He chooses not to think about them.
And it's not because I've done so many good things that the good has crowded out the bad.
It's because of His steadfast love, His mercy.
It's because of His goodness.
Comparing the goodness and mercy of God with the bitterness and unforgiving attitudes of people magnifies God's attributes.
Knowing that God, who knows my sins much more accurately and who has been offended much more intensely than any person, has chosen to love me and not dwell on my sinful past is amazing!
And it also motivates me to flee temptation.
Why would I want to offend the One who lovingly has forgiven me? Why would I choose to hurt the One who chooses not to remember my sins?
Lord, remind me of your love and goodness throughout the day. They are a cause for rejoicing and a cause for fleeing.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
God isn't Fair!
God isn't fair!
Have you heard someone say that before?
Or maybe one of these:
How can a loving God allow that young father to die?
Doesn't God see that my marriage is miserable?
Why doesn't God do something about my rebellious child?
Why won't God just take these temptations away?
We've probably all asked those questions at some time. And maybe someone reading this is asking one of those questions right now.
While asking the question is not wrong, our response to the question reveals our understanding of God.
How can a loving God allow that young father to die? The father dies, so God must not be loving.
Doesn't God see that my marriage is miserable? It doesn't appear that God is doing anything about it, so He must not see what's happening.
Why doesn't God do something about my rebellious child? The child is still rebellious, so God must not be able to do anything about it.
Why won't God just take these temptations away? The temptations are constantly there, so it must not matter to God, or He can't do anything about it.
Do you see a common train of thought in the conclusions that are drawn?
In each of those examples, we are developing our theology, our understanding of God, based on our experiences.
God didn't do...so He must be...
And we can do the same in the opposite direction:
God answered my prayers, so He must be a caring God.
God restored my marriage, so He must be a gracious God.
We might think that the positive direction is better, because we end up understanding God.
But actually, it's just as wrong.
God is caring and gracious, no matter what He does. Even if He doesn't answer my prayers the way I want.
God is also omnipotent, omniscient, loving, sovereign and holy - even if we don't experience that.
Our understanding of God has to come from His revelation of Himself to us in His Word. If it comes from any experience, the risk is that it's bad theology.
We are called to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7).
We can not interpret our lives based on our experiences.
Nor can we understand God, build our theology, based on our experiences.
Experiences are just that - experiences. Things that happen.
God doesn't change based on our experiences. Nor can our experiences be used as a tool for understanding God.
The only way to know God is through His Word. We have to live by faith, trusting in the promises and revelation of God's character found in His Word.
Regardless of the circumstances of the day.
And that is a great comfort!
What if God were like everyone imagined Him to be at a particular time?
What if God acted the way I thought He should act in every situation?
What kind of a God would that be?
Not the sovereign, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, loving, caring and wise God of the Bible.
Have you heard someone say that before?
Or maybe one of these:
How can a loving God allow that young father to die?
Doesn't God see that my marriage is miserable?
Why doesn't God do something about my rebellious child?
Why won't God just take these temptations away?
We've probably all asked those questions at some time. And maybe someone reading this is asking one of those questions right now.
While asking the question is not wrong, our response to the question reveals our understanding of God.
How can a loving God allow that young father to die? The father dies, so God must not be loving.
Doesn't God see that my marriage is miserable? It doesn't appear that God is doing anything about it, so He must not see what's happening.
Why doesn't God do something about my rebellious child? The child is still rebellious, so God must not be able to do anything about it.
Why won't God just take these temptations away? The temptations are constantly there, so it must not matter to God, or He can't do anything about it.
Do you see a common train of thought in the conclusions that are drawn?
In each of those examples, we are developing our theology, our understanding of God, based on our experiences.
God didn't do...so He must be...
And we can do the same in the opposite direction:
God answered my prayers, so He must be a caring God.
God restored my marriage, so He must be a gracious God.
We might think that the positive direction is better, because we end up understanding God.
But actually, it's just as wrong.
God is caring and gracious, no matter what He does. Even if He doesn't answer my prayers the way I want.
God is also omnipotent, omniscient, loving, sovereign and holy - even if we don't experience that.
Our understanding of God has to come from His revelation of Himself to us in His Word. If it comes from any experience, the risk is that it's bad theology.
We are called to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7).
We can not interpret our lives based on our experiences.
Nor can we understand God, build our theology, based on our experiences.
Experiences are just that - experiences. Things that happen.
God doesn't change based on our experiences. Nor can our experiences be used as a tool for understanding God.
The only way to know God is through His Word. We have to live by faith, trusting in the promises and revelation of God's character found in His Word.
Regardless of the circumstances of the day.
And that is a great comfort!
What if God were like everyone imagined Him to be at a particular time?
What if God acted the way I thought He should act in every situation?
What kind of a God would that be?
Not the sovereign, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, loving, caring and wise God of the Bible.
Monday, December 9, 2013
A Mundane Monday Morning
"So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never pass through it again" (Joel 3:17).
In other prophets we read that the people would "know that I am the LORD your God" when judgement came.
This passage talks about the restoration of Jerusalem and Judah as the sign.
When there is peace and prosperity in Jerusalem, the people would know tha tthe LORD is their God.
When the enemies of Israel have been subdued, the people would know that the LORD is God.
So in restoration or judgement, God is working to make Himself known.
God's ultimate goal in all of His acts is to make Himself known.
In good times and bad, we can seek to discover God's attributes.
How has He revealed Himself in this event?
What does God want me to learn about Himself through this?
And I don't think it's reserved for spectacular events of judgement or restoration.
How will God reveal Himself to me today, on this mundane Monday morning?
In other prophets we read that the people would "know that I am the LORD your God" when judgement came.
This passage talks about the restoration of Jerusalem and Judah as the sign.
When there is peace and prosperity in Jerusalem, the people would know tha tthe LORD is their God.
When the enemies of Israel have been subdued, the people would know that the LORD is God.
So in restoration or judgement, God is working to make Himself known.
God's ultimate goal in all of His acts is to make Himself known.
In good times and bad, we can seek to discover God's attributes.
How has He revealed Himself in this event?
What does God want me to learn about Himself through this?
And I don't think it's reserved for spectacular events of judgement or restoration.
How will God reveal Himself to me today, on this mundane Monday morning?
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