Reflecting God - but God!

Psalm 143:1-12

In our lifetimes, we will face seasons of grief and distress. None of us is exempt. A few years ago, I discovered an overcoming truth during such a season in my own life. The enemy sought to destroy our family in such a devastating way that pressing darkness threatened to overpower me. I cried to the Lord like David in Psalm 143 and tenaciously clung to the Lord.

One morning while reading Ephesians 2, these words from the fourth verse stood out: “God, who is rich in mercy.” I literally felt light flooding my heart with this realization: No matter the darkness, But God! Despite the deep sorrow, But God! Beyond any troubling circumstance, But God!

The Lord heard my prayers for mercy and relief, and His faithful lovingkindness strengthened me.

Let us choose to rejoice in our faithful Lord. Even when the gloom of loss envelops us, Those looming waves and deafening winds may signal defeat: but God!

Reflecting God - shadow of his wings

Psalm 91:1-16

“Someone must have sense enough and religion enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through love” (Martin Luther King, Jr.).

The psalmist, David, certain of God’s love for him, took refuge in the Lord’s angelic protection. How could he be so sure when King Saul’s army was stalking him daily? He lived a life of worship. As we commune with God, we also can be confident of His care.

A missionary in Asia was stalked by dangerous men. He trusted God to make a way out of a difficult situation and God did. It is the privilege of the believer to be sheltered by God, abiding in Him. We are secure in Him as He protects us from danger and disease, like a baby bird under the wings of its mother.

Regardless of the destruction of thousands near us, we are safe under God’s wings. The sprinkling of blood over the doorposts saved the firstborn of Israel. We are secure in Christ.

Reflecting God - betrayed by a kiss

Matthew 26:47-56

“But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!” (Matthew 26:24b).

Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, leading to His arrest and crucifixion. When a disciple drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest, Jesus rebuked the disciple and healed the servant’s ear. Jesus could have called on legions of angels to come to His aid, but He submitted to the cross.

Seeing Jesus comply with the high priests and regiment of soldiers, the disciples fled for fear of their lives. They were only looking at the physical battle and knew they were outmatched. Little did they realize that their fight was not against flesh and blood but “rulers” and “authorities” (Ephesians 6:12).

Jesus did not call the legions of angels for himself, but He can call them for His followers when they are in danger and alone. We can be sure unseen angels are with us if we have requested them in prayer.

Author: M. K. Henderson

Reflecting God - Soldiers of the cross

2 Kings 6:8-23

“Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength” (Billy Graham).

The king of Syria planned to make war with Israel. The prophet Elisha warned the Israelite king. Now, the king of Syria wanted to destroy him. Little did he know how unconquerable was Elisha’s powerful God. Elisha’s fearful servant thought death was imminent when he saw the great Syrian army. Elisha admonished him not to fear because those with them outnumbered the Syrian army.

We, too, need to stand with God against injustice, poverty, lawlessness, and other violations of God’s law. We see the enemy all around us but we must open our eyes to see the army of God with us. When our faith is strong, we can strengthen those who do not see God’s army. We know that God is protecting us by His right hand of righteousness.

Like Elisha, we have angels camped around us. We too, can overcome evil with good.

Author: M. K. Henderson

Reflecting God - God of mercy and love.

Psalm 25:1-11

David understood the basis on which he could approach God. When establishing the covenant at Sinai, God passed before Moses declaring: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exod. 34:6-7a). On this foundation, David approached God with trust and hope, humility and repentance.

God is trustworthy because of His great mercy and love. God willingly instructs sinners and guides the humble because He is good and upright. David fully recognized his own sinfulness and without presumption called on God to be true to himself in forgiving the sins of the humble penitent.

What relief and encouragement is ours when we recognize that we don’t have to earn the right to come before God. If that were the case, we would never know God as Savior. Our role is to humble ourselves by acknowledging our need and repenting of our sins. 

Come boldly, he is able

“For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Hebrews 4:10-16 NLT

http://bible.com/116/heb.4.10-16.nlt

http://youtu.be/WSKmcRuSjBg

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

Hebrews 7:25 NLT

http://bible.com/116/heb.7.25.nlt

http://youtu.be/gtzAciGlgKE

Reflecting God - Victory through Gods peace

Romans 16:17-20, 25-27

Some people assume that when Paul wrote “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (v. 20), he was making a reference to Genesis 3:15, in which God said to the serpent, “He will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” Whatever the case, it certainly brings that passage to mind and serves to reinforce the word God spoke to Satan long before Paul’s time.

We often forget that though we are in a spiritual battle, the war has already been won. It was decided on the cross at Calvary as the words of Jesus echoed through the valley below: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). When He spoke those immortal words, it was because the last nail had been driven not through His flesh, but through Satan’s future.

The peace we enjoy as members of the Kingdom is not achieved by denying that problems exist or burying our heads in the sand. It comes from knowing that we have “overcome the world,” and that “we are more than conquerors” through Christ (1 John 5:4; Romans 8:37).

Author: Tim Stearman