Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – but I’m not always happy about it. Thankful for it, but not always comfortable. It gives instruction for success, but it also exposes the motives and intents of the heart. In life… things are not always as they appear. Especially in trials – which will surely come. Psalms 25:18 - Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me. What is happening here? David is under stress, pressure, trial, affliction both internally and from without. His enemies hate him! And they are multiplying. Not only foreign kings and armies, but even in his own country, and even in his own house. When you are under attack and troubled internally – your biggest problem is not your enemies, it’s the opportunity to sin… Notice David didn’t say, take away all my enemies, He said take away all my sins. A couple of caveats – some people have enemies because they brought it on themselves. They were rude, selfish, they mistreated others and now it’s coming back on them. That’s not what we’re talking about here. If that’s the case – repent of your sin and make it right, pay back what you owe them or stole from them, and those enemies might even become friends. This is talking about something else. The enemies that hate you without cause – like the wicked will always hate the righteous. There are some very scary passages in Scripture. Psalms 50:14 – Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me. But to the wicked, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips. You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief you join in with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. Your mouth is filled with wickedness and your tongue is full of lies. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I didn’t care, but now I arraign you and bring my charges against you. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation. Oh-oh… God makes it clear – all my promises, don’t apply to everybody. God is revealing the danger of facing trials. They are either self-inflicted, or they are of no fault of your own. But how you act in the middle of them, is fully your responsibility. First, if it’s your fault, you have no complaint coming… I Peter 2:19 – For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God (NLT says – For God is pleased when, conscious of His will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.) But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. God clearly says to the wicked, why are you claiming my promises that do not apply to you? Ouch. Like when Jesus said, “Why do you call me LORD, LORD, and don’t do what I say?” Uncomfortable. When it comes to the Bible, we always view ourselves as the good guy, and the other person as the bad guy. These promises of God’s protection are for those who fear Him, who follow His ways and walk in his paths. David understood the real problem and the real danger, was what He does, not what others do. When we suffer attack from an enemy, we tend to blame others, or complain about God, which is really accusing Him. Job was righteous, His worthless friends were trying to get him to admit his faults, but he was having none of it. “Let God come and bring his charges against me if I’ve done anything wrong.” Oh boy… Eventually God did come – after 37 Chapters of nonsense… 38:1 – Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm… Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man and I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off it’s dimensions… who stretched a measuring line across it… Have you given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it’s place? Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?... Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? When Job finally answered… “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand… therefore I retract my words and repent in dust and ashes.” The real danger is never the trial you are in, or even the enemies that have come against you. The real danger is your tongue. What will you say about others? God hates slander. What will you say about yourself – are you more concerned with accusing others and justifying yourself, or are you focused with your eyes and mouth and heart on The LORD from whence cometh your help. Will you blame God for your problems, or accuse him of being unjust, or not coming soon enough? Praying that you will know how to respond in times of trial, or when enemies come against you. David knew the real danger was his own sin, or propensity to fall short of the upright heart that God desires in Him. When you fear God, and follow His ways – you can know for sure – God will save you from every situation you face, weapons formed against you will not prosper, God will take care of the other people if they’ve wronged you, and He promised to take care of you. Are you still mad at some people that have wronged you years ago? “I’m still mad about that…” Why? You fell victim, not to their attack, but your own response. Your sins are the real danger not theirs. David knew this, and he always kept short accounts with God. Praying that you will respond so well in every trial you face. He’s bigger than this problem, His power is greater, and He promised that He will save you, not only from them, but even from the wrong choices you could make – under pressure. Praying that you will trust Him fully, that you will rejoice in the victories He gives, and praise Him in the middle of the battle. He will surely show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him… Love you all, dad
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