God, my Deliverer
Psalms 18:1-3 (ESV) 1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Although David lived a somewhat tumultuous existence, during periods of peace he turned his full attention to God, praising Him for his deliverance from his enemies. This psalm was thought to have been penned during such a time, and David clearly understands the source of his strength. Sometimes I wonder if our lives could be enhanced and our Christian walk deepened if we followed David’s example of writing out our praises to God.
David identifies God as the source of his strength, his deliverer, his hiding place, and he knows that nothing is impossible with God. I wonder if we as modern day disciples of Christ have learned where to turn both in good times and in bad. Are we as quick to praise God when we are safe and secure as we are to beg for his help during illness or distress?
The single most valuable lesson we can learn is the constancy of God. One of my favorite hymns is “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” It includes the thought that “there is no shadow of turning with thee.” When we grasp hold of the tenet that God is our everything, and regardless of what is happening in our lives right now, He is waiting for us to to enter into a deep and abiding relationship with him, then we will acknowledge Him as our Lord and praise Him as the One who saves.
May we open our eyes to a new awareness of just how big God is, and how He will inundate us with His love if we only let Him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Clothe Yourself with Humility
1 Peter 5:5-9 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1Peter 5:7 is one of the scriptures I memorized early in my Christian walk, because it is good to have something reminding us that we do not have be anxious or fearful. But I am a little bit ashamed that it was a number of years before I realized the importance of verses 5-6.
When I read the words “clothe yourself with humility” I am reminded of a poem I wrote years ago about the heat clinging to me like a grown man’s overcoat. Just as an adult’s coat on a child is heavy and oppressive, humility does not quite fit unless God does the measurements.
None of us is righteous apart from Jesus. Likewise, humility does not seem to be something with which we are born. But being humble before God and our fellow man is necessary if we are to resist the enemy.
May we present ourselves before God daily, asking that He grow humility within us. In doing so, our daily lives will be sweeter and more pleasing to God and more uplifting to our fellow man.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For Love Covers a Multitude of Sins
1 Peter 4:7-11 (NRSV) 7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7 (MSG) 7-11 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
“Love covers a multitude of sins,” or “Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.”
If I am known for anything, it is for prefacing my sermons with the words “this is one of my favorite scriptures.” I cannot help myself—I love the Word of God. So, 1 Peter 4:8 has to be included as one of my favorite scriptures.
You see, around forty years ago I made the statement, “it’s easy to love God, but hard to love people.” Immediately, 1 John 4:20 came to mind (how can you love God whom you can’t see, and not love people whom you can see,) and the Holy Spirit quickened my Spirit. I asked God to let me see people through His eyes, and He did!
So, I love people. I enjoyed everything about preaching. I loved reading and researching the Scriptures. I loved seeing the words on paper and committing them to memory. And I loved watching the people’s faces as I delivered the message. But what I miss is pastoring the people God placed in my charge. I miss loving them when times are good and loving them when times are bad. I miss praying with them and for them.
If I can teach anyone anything, it is that God is love and there is no limit to His love. The more time I spend with Him, the more time I want to spend with Him. And the more my love grows for Him and for His creation.
May we today and everyday seek out God’s love and let His love shine through us. To God be all of the glory.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Living for God’s Will
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
For those dealing with chronic illness and pain, we have been given a unique opportunity to imitate Christ in His suffering. Peter says such hardship affords us the chance to turn our backs on sin. While living in excessive indulgence is not something to which we can all relate, we might be tempted to participate in gossip, or allow extreme anger to define who we are. But Peter believed there was a better way.
May we start each day with joy and praise so that sin cannot take hold. And may we know, believe and understand that we have the unique ability to imitate Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Approaching God
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Today I meditate on the verse, “Come boldly, without hesitation but with firm trust, into the throne of grace, Carol, that you may obtain mercy (compassion) and find grace (unmerited favor) to help you in time of need.”
As a preacher of the gospel, a certain boldness is required to stand before the church at a pulpit and deliver a sermon, particularly when addressing sin. Knowing that I was called by God to both exposit the Word and pastor the congregation, I never lack the courage to speak, whether before a group of 50 or 300. But today’s scripture addresses a personal need that can exclusively be met by approaching the mercy seat of God with the confidence that God’s children alone possess.
When I see my name on a card that says I, Carol, can ask God with confidence for His mercy and grace, just when I need it the most, then I am reminded that the God I worship and serve desires a personal relationship with each of His children. I know that He loves me and wants the best for me. And that is all I need to get me through the worst of my days.
May we never fail to seek God’s help because we think our problem is too large or too small or because we have convinced ourselves that God cannot possibly care about us. Every problem we have is God-sized, and if we are concerned, God is, too.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 