http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073,%20Psalm%2077-78&version=NIV
Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Have you ever felt that the world was treating you unfairly? That the wicked prosper and that Christians are the ones who suffer? The psalmist in Psalm 73 addresses this. The people of God in the past had the same issues that we do today. So let's see what the Word of God has to say about this situation.
At the beginning of Psalm 73, the psalmist acknowledges that God is good to those who are pure in heart. This entails living a life of obedience, but more importantly, being a believer in Christ and having the righteousness of Christ being imputed to us. Yet, the psalmist, or Asaph, says he almost slipped when he saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Doesn't that happen to us today? We see professional athletes, Hollywood stars, politicians, corporate executives, and others who appear to have it all. And we begin to become envious of them and become less attracted to God and more attracted to the world.
Asaph goes on to tell of how these people appear carefree, well-fed, prideful, and scorners of God. So it is today with the New Atheists, (ie. Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, etc...) who have attacked God. They are prideful and frame the argument in a way that it would appear to be foolish to believe in God. However, the Word of God says the fool says there is no God. (Psalm 14:1)
In verse 14, Asaph says he feels as if he is punished every morning, knowing that he is going to have to endure what he has endured previously in the day that is to come.
But then Asaph enters the Sanctuary of God, and realizes their final destiny.
That they will be utterly destroyed. Why? Because they have sinned against God who has created them for His glory. (Isaiah 43:7) This sounds go harsh to those who live in our relativistic culture. A culture that says what is good for you is good for you and what is good for me is good for me. Or, what is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me. Have you heard those before? How false those statements are!! (See John 14:6, John 17:17, and Acts 4:12)
You know, The Bridge is considering doing a co-ed evangelism based Bible Study perhaps in the summer. Why? Because we are to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) . Additionally, I am sure each of us has friends who do not know Christ. They may be the nicest persons in the world, the most benevolent, friendly and kind, but if Jesus Christ is not their Lord and Savior, they will not be in Heaven with us when they die.
Asaph, continues and says when he was senseless and brutish towards the Lord, the Lord did not desert him. He guided Asaph and counseled him and promised him eternal glory. All of this is available to us today as well. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit never leave us even when we sin. It is we who shun God. Yet, God is there for us, He is the one who grants us repentance and He is the one who enables us to live an obedient life to Him.
Asaph concludes with a heart that is towards God. He says,
"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." (v. 28)
Is God your refuge? You can make Him your refuge today by placing your trust in Him. What deeds has the Lord done in your life? Feel free to share with us what He has done in your life and is doing. We are the Body of Christ. Let us exalt in Him and what He is doing in our midst.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer
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Wow! The opening statement is so true for me today. Have you ever felt that the world was treating you unfairly?
ReplyDeleteI learned in a meeting last night that a strong punishment for domestic abuse in the State of Texas is one year. One year???? A man can do horrible things to a woman and IF he gets tried and gets a long punishment, he will be given a one year sentence. Then, to top it off, in Harris County our jails are so overcrowded one day served counts as two. So a one year sentence in Harris County is really six months.
I was asked the question last night. What would I like to see happen. My honest reply was "I just want him to leave me and my family alone."
The last 24 hours I have been thinking how unfair is this! I live in America! Why have I had to fight and go through so much just to be free? It should be a right! Our boggled down, red-tape, overworked civil servant system is not giving me long term freedom. It actually seems to give freedom to evil. How is the system protecting me? This system is not fair!
Then I remember at every "battle" during the last two years of fighting for my freedom that God has brought people to help fight the fight for me. He has brought a lawyer, government workers, a security man, a contact for a good job, an awesome roommate and wonderful, caring, loving friends out of The Bridge.
The world is unfair. The laws of Texas need to be changed to protect the freedoms of the abused more than the abuser.
But God's laws are fair! He has been holding me in His tender hands the entire time. It has not been easy, but He has been there to comfort me and guide me through every trial. I need to praise God and give Him thanks for freedom in Him! God has supplied my every need at the time of my need!
Praise God that He is fair and loving even when the world in not!