The Power of the Gospel

 

 

READ Psalm 125–129

Yesterday’s message from God at our church continues to bless my heart. The focus was living out the Gospel, first by defining what the Gospel is and does, and secondly by describing the response that comes from realizing its truth — that Jesus has done it all. In Him, we do nothing more to gain or to keep our salvation. Because of Jesus, our relationship with God and our eternal destiny is 100% secure. Gospel means ‘good news’ and our response must be to share that good news with others.

Our pastor said we easily share our passion for sports, hobbies, children, and so on with others. Do we not love Jesus as much or more? Being excited about Jesus comes from realizing that being a Christian is not about trying harder or doing what we can to please God. It is about deeply knowing that all we need His Jesus and He has done all we need.

That said, I read these verses and saw even more that is true because of Jesus . . .

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Psalm 127:1–2)

No matter how hard I try or do everything ‘right’ or the way it should be done, if the Lord isn’t in it, then it is in vain. No matter how careful I am to protect my life and the life of my family or even the lives of my friends and neighbors, unless the Lord is watching over them, that also is vanity. And hard work is also futile if it is done in the strength of my anxieties about ‘getting it done’ for this also is not of faith. When the Lord is truly ‘in it’ then I will still work hard but go to bed without the sleeplessness that comes from worrying about what didn’t get done or if I did it correctly.

This seems simple stuff. Trust God to work in the lives of others, to watch over all of us, to guide my work and give me the satisfaction I seek. Today’s devotional writer sees these verses in that big picture view. He says this short passage identifies three metaphors that describe the Lord: He is the Builder, the Watchman and the Benefactor.

Our son is giving us a visual of building by sending us daily photos of the progress of his new house. They spent much time establishing a blueprint to bring it to the stage where the foundation is finished and the walls are going up. The Lord works with a plan also . . .

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him . . . . (Ephesians 1:3–4)

Not only that, Jesus is the foundation: “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11) and as He builds our lives, we stand firm on Christ. He saves us, build us up, and keeps us. Without Him, our efforts to be godly are in vain.

He is also our Watchman, always alert, making sure no harm comes to those whom he guards. Human watchman need to rest or sleep but the Lord is always alert and protects us from natural and spiritual disasters. He is greater than all and has power over all. He may allow troubles, but only for our good (Romans 8:28–29).

Benefactor is an odd word for me; I might use Blesser yet Benefactor fits. It is someone who provides all needed resources, with ‘all’ the important word. This covers everything from food, clothing, friends, work, influence, opportunities, enablement, skills, peace, joy, love, comfort, wisdom, no matter what we need, God is able to supply. Because the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

His supply is limitless and His generosity is without parallel. Not only that, He calls us to be generous to others and should that mean giving away something we need ourselves, God will simply fill in that gap.

Because of this, worry over anything is pointless. So is a frantic “I must do this” attitude concerning any part of life, as well as making “I can’t” excuses based on available resources. God through Christ covers everything, supplies everything, and keeps His eye on everything. What a joy to realize the wonder of all He does for me and for all His children!

 

God’s Protection — from the inside and out . . .

 

 

READ Psalm 120–124

In a farming community we had a neighbor whose wife was physically much larger than he was. Some of the other neighbors used to affectionately tease them that she was his “heat in the winter and shade in the summer.” I thought of them when reading this passage today:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:1–8)

As loving and protective as this wife may have been toward her husband, she serves as only a small example of God’s care for his family. Sometimes that care is outward and visible as He removes problems and answers pleas for relief. Sometimes His care is inward as He gives His people the ability to stand strong even in the challenges of life. What is the greater victory — having the rocks removed from the river? Or having the water made deeper than the threats it contains? Either way, my help comes from the Lord and I rejoice!

I also want God’s people to focus on this marvel. Sometimes the problems seem too much and the prayers are only for their removal rather than that deeper water that enables joy in sorrow and praise in pain. For that reason, when I read these verses, I thought that Jerusalem could be a reference to the people of God more than this specific city. It speaks to inner security, inner peace, even that “peace that surpasses all understanding” written about in the NT:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. (Psalm 122:6–9)

That does not mean ignoring the struggles of others and asking God for only one kind of answer to their situation. When someone is hungry, I should feed them, not expect them to have a fasting mentality and bear with it. When someone has lost their job or a loved one or is ill, I should pray for a new job, for comfort, for healing — as well as the sense of God’s presence and His peace as they struggle in their situation. The NT has many appeals to His children to do good, such as . . .

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9–10)

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

This does not mean trying to meet every need. Proverbs 3:27 qualifies it with: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”

Right now, people we know are taking in singles, couples, even large families that are refugees from persecution or have fled the war in the Ukraine. Some are giving goods and finances for their support and to meet physical needs. Prayers go up. Help is given regarding employment and for education needs as well as the emotional support for trauma experiences and spiritual support for the devastation in their souls.

This is one segment of the needy world we live in. It can be overwhelming until I think about the enormity of God. Yet He asks me only to do what He enables me to do and knows how to take care of the rest.