There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 124
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
If the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us. [Psalm 124:2-3]
Perspective, it’s all in how you look at things.
Faith is seeing life – it’s blessings and challenges – from a God perspective.
David encourages believers to remember that they have been protected by God, that He has been the One that has protected and helped them through life.
Memorize this statement: Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. [Psalm 124:8]
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. [John 19:10-11]
Pilate is so sure that he has power over Jesus, but Jesus knows better.
From Jesus’ perspective, Pilate is under a higher power.
This is the faith perspective, to see the circumstances of our lives – the good and the bad – as directed by the hand of God.
God has placed me where I am, God has blessed me the way he has, God has allowed me to experience the struggles I have – all by His sovereign power.
We are not victims of our circumstances, we are kept secure within the power and purpose of our God, the Maker of heaven and earth.
People have a hard time with this because they see or experience so much hardship.
How can God allow so much evil or misery or pain or tragedy?
But here again the faith perspective comes in.
By faith we see that sin and misery are the result of our free and foolish choices.
God graciously made us to choose, that we might choose for Him and for good, but also with the option to choose against Him for evil.
Why would anyone do this?
Not sure why, but we do, repeatedly and foolishly.
Again and again we make choices that only increase our misery.
God graciously allows us our freedom, so that we might eventually come to our senses and turn back to Him – the Maker of heaven and earth.
If we would shift our focus away from self (unlike Pilate, ‘I have the power’) and focus instead on God (like Jesus, ‘power comes from above’), our lives would turn around.
We were made to live in, with and for God, He created us (and the universe) this way.
As long as we refuse Him, we will experience the misery that results.
But if we surrender ourselves to Him, we can be confident that He will guide and direct our lives by His power, for His purpose and for our ultimate protection and success.
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. [Psalm 124:8]
PRAYER:
Lord, today is Your gift to me, I will offer it as my gift to You. You are my hope, my help, I will trust in You!