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There Is No God

I’ve called April 1 Atheists’ Day because Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 begin, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” But, not only atheists but backsliding Christians (2 Peter 2:20-21) and those who don’t seek God fall into the category of fool, according to the rest of this short psalm.

I. Romans 3:9-24. The application of Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 is made here. After describing how we are all alike under sin, this New Testament passage explains how God’s righteousness is made available through Jesus’ work on the cross for those who do seek Him.

II. Hebrews 10:26-31. As the wicked eat up the generation of the righteous, we understand that God gives salvation to all who call upon His name (Romans 10:9-13). Those who sin after the knowledge of the gospel will face judgment as they should know better.

III. Matthew 13:36-43. The last verse of these psalms proclaims that those who do seek God will find restoration, rejoicing, and gladness. Salvation came into Zion (John 12:13-15) and would indeed go forth from there (Acts 1:8). The righteous will shine like the sun.

By your living, do you say in your heart, ‘There is no God’?

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His Delight is in the Law

The person who waits until he’s in the midst of a struggle to turn to God is like the one who doesn’t repair his roof when the sun shines because it isn’t raining.  The rain will come; crises hit our lives like storms.  The question is: are you prepared spiritually to meet them (Psalm 1)?

I. 1 John 2:3-6. The righteous don’t go through this life like the wicked do.  They don’t stand up with sinners nor sit with the scoffers.  Rather their delight is in the law of the Lord.  On this they meditate as they seek His commands (Psalm 119:10-16).

II. Galatians 5:18-24.  Just as a willow tree drinks deeply from a nearby water source, so we must drink deeply from God’s Word.  Just as the righteous and wicked are contrasted in Psalm 1, so they are here.  But, like the deep-drinking willow, we can grow the fruits of the spirit.  Those who don’t are like chaff that is gathered only to burn (Matthew 13:27-30).

III. Matthew 25:41-43.  The wicked will not stand with the righteous in the Judgment, but often they don’t realize they are wicked.  “When did we see you in need?” they ask, but they are guilty of not grasping the opportunities to do good that God has given them.  Instead, the righteous seek first the kingdom and righteousness of the Rock of Ages (Matthew 6:31-33).

Psalm 1 serves as wisdom to guide godly people.  It’s no wonder that Psalms is a favorite book of many.  It gives comfort if you’ve made godly choices and warning if you’ve strayed.

 

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For in You I Trust

Where do we go when our lives are handfuls of broken pieces?  Like Charlie Brown once again running towards Lucy to kick the football, the world yanks what we need away and we regret that once again we have put our trust in it.  Why do we not trust God more?  David answers this in Psalm 143.

I.  Psalm 1:1-3.  Because his enemy is pursuing his soul and crushing his life within him, David prays for mercy, appealing to God’s great faithfulness, righteousness, and steadfast love to grant it.  But, David is conscious of how he is living before God as well when he asks Him not to enter into judgment with him and then spends much time recalling what God has already done for him while yearning for a closer relationship with God.

II.  Romans 8:13-14.  If God does not answer him quickly, David knows that his spirit, already fainting within him, will fail.  Because it is only in God that he trusts, longing to hear of God’s steadfast love as He answers David’s prayer and gives guidance by morning, David has to be patient.  Often we find it harder to trust God when the world offers a quicker or easier “fix.” Perhaps we fear rejection by the world or hope it will leave us alone if we blend in with it?

III.  Romans 8:3-8.  David appeals to the relationship that he has with God for his life to be preserved.  As God’s servant, he submits to God’s will and trusts fully in Him and Him alone, choosing to be led by His Spirit.  Therefore, since he belongs to God, he asks God to guide and save him “for [God;s] name’s sake.”  There’s certainty in David’s trust of God.  Because of his close relationship with Him, David knows his enemies will be destroyed.

The Japanese art of kinsugi mends pottery with gold and lacquer and brings more value to a piece than before it was broken.  Only God can take our brokenness and turn it into a beautiful-mess.  Trust Him.

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Even If You Suffer

Suffering results from consequences of our bad choices and of our good choices.  Many reap harvest from sin and smugly assume that all suffering is for righteousness’ sake, but it is only suffering for doing good that God says He will bless you (1 Peter 3:13-18).

I.  Philippians 3:8-11.  We endure righteous suffering because of our relationship with Christ.  If God is truly our refuge where we abide and store our treasure (Matthew 6:20-21), then He will bless us when we suffer along with the prophets (Matthew 5:11-12).  Christ put the relationship with His Father first and suffered to make the gospel possible, so we must die to sin and selfishness to live in Him as a new creation (Romans 6:3-5).

II.  1 Peter 1:14-15.  We endure righteous suffering because of our relationship with ourselves in Christ.  If we are fearful or anxious for what the world can do to us, then we have a very low faith and trust in God, the only One we should fear (Matthew 10:28).  Rather, because He endured suffering and chose to be holy because His Father was holy, we too must choose, as we die to self and live for Him (Romans 6:6-8), to be holy for our own sakes.

III.  2 Corinthians 5:18-20.  We endure righteous suffering because of our relationship with the lost.  The sinless Christ died for us when we were unrighteous (Romans 5:6-8), so he has done for all while hoping for their repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Since He chose to suffer for the lost, shouldn’t we who have obeyed the gospel and are in Christ already be willing servants or ambassadors for Christ by being gentle and respectful towards them (Galatians 6:1) that we might win some?

Many avoid suffering at all costs, often compromising with and blending in with the world.  But Christ suffered for righteousness’ sake for you who were lost.  Shouldn’t you who are in Christ because of His suffering be willing to suffer to bring the lost to Christ?

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Steps Toward Righteousness

Our Father in Heaven, by whom a single word
Brings light and worlds to exist, and souls to life,
We thank you for our steps toward righteousness,
A daily journey, from grace to greater grace.

To us it seems a distance toward your presence,
But you remind us you are always near,
And close to all your sons and daughters of faith,
Directing, guiding, guarding all the way.

To you we sing: Holy, holy, holy!
And thank you for your love and patient mercy.
O Savior! Give us patience with ourselves,
And none with sin, in our walk with you.

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Between You and Your God

The impact of the gospel becomes real at the moment Jesus cries out with “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” while on the cross.  This is the whole reason for the “good news” in the first place.  Man, who is separated from God because of sin, can not pay back the debt he owes, so God becomes a man, who does not sin, to pay back man’s debt to God.

I.  1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  From incarnation to intercession, Jesus’ redemptive work at the cross and the tomb is called a matter of first importance and works together to save us (Hebrews 7:23-25).  We each choose to obey or not obey the gospel (Romans 6:1-18) as Jesus overcomes our sin problem (Isaiah 59:1-4) by having our sins punished in Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21) and then solving our grave problem by resurrecting from the dead.

II.  Romans 7:18-20.  Sins are either those we commit (when we do what we shouldn’t) or omit (don’t do what we should).  Even the smallest hint of either will separate us from a holy God (Ephesians 4:17–5:7).  If we just look at the seven deadly sins (although every sin is deadly!), we can see how they all overlap in and work to destroy individuals’ spiritual, physical, and emotional/mental realms.  We need Jesus’ redemptive work of the gospel to remove the separation that sin has made between us and God.

III.  Romans 14:10-12.  We must own our sins before Jesus can take them away.  This means letting their devastating impact to our souls and the awaiting judgment for them truly strike us.  Then, we can appreciate what Jesus has done for us and can obey the gospel by believing (John 8:24), repenting of our sins (Luke 13:3), confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9), and being baptized into His Name for the forgiveness of sins (1 Peter 3:21).

But the gospel doesn’t stop there … as those who have come into Christ must continue to live obediently (Philippians 2:12-13).  Jesus has died for you.  Are you living in Him?

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May faithfulness and love not disappear from among us

Based on Hosea 4

Father, let us hear your word, and may it not be a word of accusation against us. Help us to live according to your commandment so that we may hear your approval.

May faithfulness and love not disappear from among us, nor the knowledge of your glory. May they flourish in our midst.

May sin not been seen, but righteousness. As your servants and holy priests, keep us from stumbling. Let us not be destroyed for lack of knowledge. Let us not reject knowledge, but help us to choose it so that we may be chosen by you.

May we not ignore your law, so that we are not ignored by you. We confess, Lord, that so many among us disparage and disdain your commands. We confess that your people are moving away from your demands. Move among us, Lord, to place us squarely in obedience to your will.

Let us refuse to exchange our glory—our knowledge of you—for shameful things. Let us not feed upon the sins of the people nor feel pleasure in their iniquities.

Feed us, so that we may be satisfied. Keep us from abandoning you. Strengthen us that we might be faithful. Let us always turn to you for answers.

We want our sacrifices to be spiritual and acceptable to you. Keep us from running after the vain worship of the religions around us. Break our rebelliousness. Feed us as the pastor feeds his sheep in the field.

May we remain grounded and protected on the day when your wind of judgment sweeps away all those who belong to false religions.

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Righteous, just, and pure

With your help, heavenly Father, today I will do your will and please you in all things.

By your Spirit, Lord, I will be righteous, just, and pure in your sight.

In Christ, God of all peace, I will know you and delight in your presence.

In the midst of your people, we will praise you as Savior who created us as your children and gave us your fullness.

So let me today take hold of your exceedingly great and precious promises to participate in your divine nature.

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Righteousness Will Reign Supreme

Confused the mind when fixed upon earth,
And earthly things turn eyes from heaven.
I’d see, O Lord, your saints abide
In eternal homes, where titles are dead,
And Mammon has lost its mad control,
Where love is pure, and labor is sweet.

What joys must circle our jealous Lord!
What peace surrounds your powerful Head!
Your kingdom at last will come to all,
That day that evil’s cast down to hell,
And righteousness will reign supreme,
The sea no more, in justice’ calm.

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Mixed with Compassion

Your judgments are invariably right,
O God who knows, God who is light;
By righteousness the earth is blessed,
The saints encouraged, evil men suppressed;
Save me from smallness that always finds fault,
To critical words of the tongue bring a halt;
But help me judge correctly all things,
With justice that only your Word brings,
Mixed with compassion, that all confess
The God I know, who seeks to bless.