July 14
Psalms 128-130, 132, 134-135
As frequently is the case when talking to my long term patients, the discussion centered around life during and after the shutdowns. The other day I was talking to a very pleasant patient of mine, and explained to her how it was my faith in God and knowing that He was and is always completely in control that facilitated my way through this crisis. She is Jewish and secular, to which she replied that she can't accept faith, for what kind of God would allow all of the hurt and devastation that we have seen over these last couple of years. I asked her what it is that she thinks we deserve? I then explained just how godless our nation, and for that matter our world is. She then defended by stating that all of us in the world believe in the same God. To which I explained the exclusivity of the One, True God. We continued to have a very pleasant conversation which then got to the cross, which she jokingly stated that many Christians believe that the Jews are responsible for killing Him, knowing that Jesus, Himself, was a Jew. I then asked her who she thought was responsible, to which she did not answer. I explained that He was not killed, but offered Himself as a sacrifice. Had He wanted to, no one had the power to kill Him. But as to who was responsible, I explained that it was me, and for that matter, all of humanity, for it was for my sins that He willingly offered Himself as the only sacrifice that was sufficient to cover our sins. It truly was an enjoyable conversation. My hope is that a seed was planted.
We read in Psalm 128: 1,4, "How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways!...That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him." That is what most walking this planet miss. God does indeed bless, but most don't fear Him. This does not mean to be afraid of Him, but to hold Him in awe and respect. We read in 129:3-4, "My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows. But the Lord is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly." This is how we must realize things. We will indeed undergo many difficult and, at times, painful trials, but the purpose is to cut us free from godlessness and to fix ourselves onto Him. We see this realization of what we deserve and what He offers in 130:3-4, "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you." When we finally realize who He is and who we are, how we compare to an infinitely holy God, we cease to come before Him in a spirit of what we deserve, but instead in a spirit of gratitude for giving us that which we don't deserve. We come to thank Him for His never ending grace and mercy, as we read in 135:1, "Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise him, you who serve the Lord,"
When we make a choice to follow God, we aren't told that we might undergo trials, we are told that we will undergo trials. We read in John 16:33, " I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” So, it is not an if, but a when. What is our attitude to be when we find ourselves in the midst of these trials? We read in James 1:2-4 (NKJV), " My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." We need to understand this first and foremost. Then when you have grasped this, the opportunities that we are surrounded in the midst of such world wide chaos is endless. We need to move forward with the only message of true hope. It is not a return to normal which is what we need to put forth, but a turning to Jesus as to where our hope comes from.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: