“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.” -Psalm 27:4
If there were ever such a beautiful and honorable prayer breathed before the Lord’s presence, it is this Christian ambition. What else does a believer long for than to be totally satisfied in the loving protection of God in His Home, enjoying Him forever? Endless worship and beauty. Repeat again. It will never get old, or boring, or monotonous. This is what every child of God is made for.
Just as the natural world takes our breath away with oceans, canyons, spider webs, redwood oak trees, ladybugs and billowy clouds- these beauties are but a scratch of God’s cosmic display. The Christian’s eternity starts here and ends over there, in Heaven. This verse encompasses the Westminster ShorterCatechism question, What is the chief end of man? -To glorify God andenjoy Him forever. It begs another question to consider as well. When you have this prayer verse answered as much as possible on this side of Heaven, when God is all satisfying, filling every void and longing, what else do you need?
The Lord Jesus has given Himself to you, forever, therefore you have everything. If all belongs to God, and Christ is yours and you are His, then there is nothing He will not withhold from His child which is needful. Our misunderstanding is in assuming we know what is best for us, others, and the world. But God does not think or operate the way we do, because His wisdom is infinite. He sees the whole picture, from before Time began, throughout every slice of history, and beyond the consummation of Christ and His Church when He reigns in eternity.
Since God has placed this beautiful desire of verse 4 in every Christian pilgrim, He will honor it. The Lord has prepared a place for us in His kingdom, and will take care to see us all the way Home. Every child of God will see His face and live with the Lover of their soul for all eternity. The Christian is firmly in His grasp, and nothing can pry God Almighty’s Hand away. Oh the hope and expectation believers have is enough to make us burst with excitement like a child on Christmas Day! If only we lived with this mindset each day.
This prayer verse will come to pass in full one day. For now, we wait with courage and hope. We practice entering His courts with praise. Practice pursuing this beautiful King. Practice seeing His work in creation all around which leads your heart to nothing less than full-throated worship! Eyes to see and a heart that responds- this is what Yahweh is training us for. This is the believer’s blessing which never ends.
What has God’s strong arm accomplished for you? Eternal salvation. Praise Him!
Who is at God’s right hand interceding on your behalf? Jesus Christ. Praise Him!
How is God at work in your life this moment? Daily sanctification. Praise Him!
When will you behold the face of God, faith becoming sight? In earthly death. Praise Him!
Where is the Holy Spirit? In my heart forevermore. Praise Him!
Not by our merit, but of His great mercy.
Even if God were to strip away every temporal blessing He has given you and me, like Job, we would still have the Lord. The Lord is my Shepherd, He is all I’ll ever need.
The Lord “watches over the way of His saints.” -Proverbs 2:8
“difficulty is a normal part of life in an abnormal world.” -Stephanie O. Hubach
We live in a fallen world. As much as we may try to keep this reality at bay, it is evident in our culture, current events, and even in ourselves. Since we all bear God’s image, unbelievers also recognize things are not as they should be. They seek to create a human utopia through climate change, man’s sense of justice, or any other philanthropic endeavor to turn the world’s axis right again. Others may bend under resignation, with a fatalistic mentality, and live just for themselves- eat, drink now and be merry.
But neither of those options are any good. Mere outward reform and indulgence are fleeting. As Christians, God calls His people to engage others while still trusting in His Sovereign plan. “Hehasshowed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). How are Christians living out this mandate right in their own backyard? It can take many forms because the needs around us are many, as we experience life in a broken world. Believers are called to be Spirit-led when serving, as God directs our hearts in the work He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). All Christians are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in whatever capacity, gifts and ability God has given them.
In her book Same Lake, Different Boat, Stephanie O. Hubach argues for the Church to recognize the need for ministering to the disabled. Disability is a broad term which includes physical, intellectual, developmental, mental or sensory. Under this umbrella consist people with autism, blindness, deafness, spina bifida, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, to list a few. Besides the fact that God commands us to care for the least of these, meaning those who require the help of others long term or short term, one might ask, “What does this have to do with me?”
Before my son was born, the special needs world was not on my radar. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, it just didn’t affect me personally, nor did I know many people who were disabled. Then the Lord lovingly assigned it to me. Now I see a need which mostly flies under the radar, because those with disability typically need an advocate. Advocacy normally falls on the parents or caregivers, who already have a limited supply of energy and time. Their net covers just the one in their care, not spreading out to the larger disabled group. This is a great opportunity for outside help, particularly in the Church. Back to the question, “What does all this have to do with me?” Well, when we remember our own brokenness and the free grace which has been lavished on us, it should prompt every Christian to turn around and offer acts of mercy to a hurting world. We tell others the Gospel by also showing it to them. Hubach puts it this way:
“The first thing that motivates us to identify with others is a proper perspective of ourselves. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Romans 12:3). We must recognize that we all have needs- that is a normal part of life in an abnormal world. Our brokenness and vulnerability as humans is universal; how it manifests itself is variable. Same lake, different boat.”
Just as Christ acted on behalf of every redeemed sinner in the most monumental, supernatural work of atonement, Christians are called to serve others sacrificially, although imperfectly.
If you agree that Christians have a responsibility to bless and serve the overlooked or forgotten, but don’t know how to help, here are a few suggestions. A good starting point is in your local church. Is there a Sunday school class offered for special needs that you can help with? Or perhaps there is a need for care during the main worship? Some with special needs may not be able to sit for an entire service, or will make involuntary disruptions such as noises or hand flapping. This can cause the entire family to feel self-conscious, not to mention distracted as they try to participate in the service, while keeping their loved one quiet. What a blessing to be able to minister to the family by providing a space where their loved one is cared for, so they can focus on the sermon and receive spiritual nourishment.
Another way to minister to someone with a disability is to look in your community. There are care facilities and special needs sports/art/music/camp programs which I’m sure would love more volunteers. I have found over the years that I receive possibly more encouragement than the ones I attempt to serve when taking part in the special needs world.
Although the building itself is not the church, but the people inside it, the structure of a church can be very beneficial in welcoming those with special needs. Does your church facility accommodate those with disability by making the entrance handicap accessible, providing a family restroom for diapering needs, or have an unused quiet room for when a sensory overload meltdown occurs? Are these things in place or do they need to be implemented? The way a church does or does not provide accommodations speaks volumes on whether the welcome mat is laid out for special needs or pulled up tightly. A church can unknowingly act like a country club by passively excluding those who are different, or make its members uncomfortable. The function of a church operates out of its particular culture in what it values, not what it says it values, but actually does.
Are there persons with special needs who regularly attend your church? Are they an integral part of the body or kept on the fringe? Is your church missing this vital role? Please don’t misunderstand the reason for this post. My goal is not to pile on a guilt trip. These are however, good questions to consider by bringing awareness in an area of ministry that might need attention. What a great opportunity the church has to show the love of Jesus to this particular group. We are made up of the body of Christ and need each part. “The eyecannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (1 Corinthians 12:21-25).
A word of encouragement to someone who feels intimidated in serving people with disability. That’s okay and I think normal. Those who take the care of others seriously will have a bit of trepidation. We don’t want to add to their burden by our ignorance in how their medical equipment works, or how difficult it might be to relate. I have no educational background in special needs. I’m just a mom who knows her son. The vast spectrum of disability and my lack of knowledge overwhelms me too! But here’s the good news. We don’t have to do any of these things in our own strength. That isn’t just a pretty little saying, but absolutely true to those who claim it by faith. God will give wisdom and help as we ask for it. The needs will vary in a case by case situation, but God has promised to provide the grace and strength we need for this day, to carry out the work He has given us for this day. With that said, it is my hope that those with a disability and their families will be gracious receivers, knowing we are imperfect and may not get it right the first time.
Ministering to those with special needs is an opportunity to become more prayerful and Christ dependent, rather than go rogue and seek only outward reform. The point of inclusion for special needs families is ultimately to point them to Christ, just like everyone else. This is the heart need every soul longs for. Do they belong too?
Stephanie O. Hubach’s book Same Lake, Different Boat has greatly ministered to me. She is a parent of two boys, one with Down syndrome. Hubach has insight, practical wisdom and Biblical encouragement, beneficial for every Christian whether you are directly affected by special needs or not. As Christians we are called to come alongside those who are in need, like those touched by disability. I appreciate how Hubach does not come across as demanding, angry or self-pitying in her experience and analysis. She shoots straight with a heart of compassion and a dose of humor.
We are solution oriented people. If something cannot be fixed or improved upon, our tendency is to shy away instead of lean in. It is not wrong to try and make things better. As image bearers, one aspect of this is healing. But the kind of healing Christians can most meaningfully co-labor with God in is spiritual. We bless others when we truly see them with dignity as fellow image bearers. We likely cannot fix the visible disability, but we can be a friend. Believers can demonstrate the Gospel by speaking up for the weak, serving in kindness, laced with humility toward those the world does not highly value.
Hubach speaks of the worth of each person as the starting point to understand the reason we serve others by saying,
When the image of God within is central to our understanding of humanity, it sends a powerful message about human value to the world around us. Our culture often measures personal value as a function of productivity. The degree to which we are able to contribute to society is the degree to which we are valued. In God’s economy, however, human value is defined by the Creator Himself through the imprint of His image in humankind. Others take notice, not merely when we say this is true, but when we live like it is true in respect-based relationships. Our actions ought to declare, “You are incredibly valuable!” to everyone we meet.
In the same way, the powerful message of the gospel is demonstrated when we respond to others in grace-based actions. Our competitive culture is uncomfortable with weakness. When people see us acknowledge our frailties and intentionally engage others in the areas of their brokenness, we live out the gospel of grace in powerful ways.
This kind of service bears fruit that is pleasing to God. This kind of healing when God is at work is of eternal value. May God direct all of our hearts in His love as we do His kingdom work, persevering in His strength.
Grace upon grace,
April
Here is a helpful link in understanding the statistics of children and adults with special needs in the Church, as well as how their families are impacted.
I love Christmas hymns. They speak of what God has done for us through Jesus’ birth and perfect atonement. It was all part of God’s plan from the beginning. This means that chaotic world events, personal sorrows, and sin has not caught God off guard. He is still at work. A friend shared with me her favorite Christmas hymn a few years ago and it was one I wasn’t familiar with. ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ is now one of my favorites too. Part of it goes, “And in despair I bowed my head, ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said, ‘For hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.’ Then rang the bells more loud and deep, ‘God is not dead, nor does He sleep, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.'”
These words are true because every Christian worships a Living Hope. This is our greatest joy because Jesus Christ is our greatest Gift. There is forgiveness, access to the Father and comfort for every believer. This is a beautiful hymn, full of longing but certain hope. Jesus came in grace. He is coming again. Now we see through a glass darkly, as if we are only half-awake, but one day God’s children will enjoy His Presence and Peace forever when we see Christ face to face. God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Sin and death will be no more. Praise God!
“I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commands.” -Psalm 119:176
The psalmist is honest before the Lord. It is deeply personal. There is no hiding from Him who sees and knows all things. When we rightly understand the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father, there is no need to run and hide like our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden. Even when we sin, we have a great Mediator to go before us. Our Great Shepherd will always leave the ninety-nine sheep in the safe pasture to go look for the one that wandered away.
David (likely the psalmist), prays to be sought by Jehovah Yahweh, the Keeper of his soul. He knows God’s commands are not only life giving but life saving, which is why he is determined to remember them and live accordingly with God’s help. Our lives in God’s hands are very much like a sonnet. There are boundaries constructed around the perimeter. We must be diligent to acknowledge the set structure He has given us and submit to His authority. Yet the colorful freedom within the sonnet is our liberty. To live, create, work, play and enjoy His many blessings is our joy and His delight! This is the beauty of man’s will working inside God’s will. To stray outside the cadence would be to our peril. The Lord knows this, loving His sheep too much to let us wander off the path, bleating aimlessly. Our Lord Jesus suffered in the place of each redeemed sinner so that you and I never experience one day apart from Him, the Savior and King.
As this psalm closes, it is good to pray like the psalmist does- “Seek Your servant”. Every Christian has a position before the Lord, as a justified, sanctified believer. Those hidden in Christ are adopted into God’s family, given a heavenly inheritance without end. This is because of Jesus. Faith in Jesus Christ transforms depraved sinners into redeemed ones. The grace of God has reached down and taken hold of every born again image bearer. He will not let His beloved go but intends for His mercy and love to follow you all the days of your life. This is the Christian’s greatest blessing because the goodness of God does not end when we die. It is only the beginning of our blessed eternity with the One who has always loved us first and best of all. God is faithful to pursue His children, and lead them all the way into His Kingdom, our Forever Home.
Grace upon grace,
April
Growing deeper: Psalm 23; Isaiah 53; Luke 15:1-7; Hebrews 7:24-28; 1 Peter 2:24-25
“Let me live that I may praise You, and may Your laws sustain me.” -Psalm 119:175
It isn’t just physical life the psalmist seeks after, but to drink deeper from the Wellspring of Life. God is the sustenance for every believer, strengthening us according to His good Word. He provides common grace to all people, supplying each breath, allowing good things even for the wicked to enjoy, albeit temporal. But the psalmist has spiritual eyes, a divine hunger to experience fellowship with the Holy God that is fresh and richly satisfying. Give me life is his cry.
More of God flows into more love of Him, more gratitude over our blessings, an awareness of His ocean of mercy, delighting in His beauty all around. The goodness of God is not found merely in what He gives us, but also in how He keeps us. He holds our salvation securely, with every believer’s name permanently written in the Book of Life. God restrains sin in the world and in us. The world is chaotic but consider how much worse it could be. The Lord in lovingkindness has given His laws to protect us from harm, so we do not destroy ourselves in sin. The surest way to ruin our lives and witness is to not live within the secure boundaries God provides. King David certainly understood this principle, as his sins toward Bathsheba and Uriah carried grave consequences which lasted the rest of his life.
Just like King David, Israel, and all sinners, we learn the hard way the cycle of sin, conviction, repentance, and restoration. There is forgiveness when we turn from God’s ways, momentarily not finding them enough. But what sweet blessing for the one who stays firmly planted in God’s garden, drawing sustenance from His vineyard. This is what life abundant in Jesus Christ looks like. He who abides in God’s laws is the one who truly lives and will indeed inherit everlasting life. Christ’s righteousness covers the redeemed sinner and the Spirit enables this new life to walk in holiness, freedom from the enslavement of sin. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise God for His wondrous love, measureless grace and boundless mercy!
“I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.” -Psalm 119:174
The psalmist longs for the completion of his salvation. When he wrote this psalm (likely King David), he saw only a shadow of the promise, a foretaste of the Great Messiah who was to come. He knew the promises but longed for God to fulfill them soon. But what is “soon” to the One outside of Time? To the Keeper of Time? We know on this side of the cross that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who has come and will come again. Only He fulfilled the Law, keeping it perfectly. Yet we follow God’s laws (commands) today as we wait for Jesus to come again once and for all. This is the Age of Grace as we learn the holy ways of our Lord. Like a child learning to ride a bike, first with training wheels, this is our training ground.
Charles Spurgeon says believers develop a “holy hunger” for God the more we are satisfied in Him. The Christian’s appetite is whetted for what is good, beautiful and true. Redeemed sinners have received their salvation in part, meaning in Christ we are forgiven and no longer condemned. But one day, our faith will be made sight as the whole of our salvation is consummated in Glory at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). Jesus is throwing a big party and you who are adopted into His family are invited. While we wait in the interim of the already and not yet, the Christian’s purpose today is to love the Lord above all else, love our neighbor and glorify God by keeping His commandments. We are called to walk worthy. Do you love God’s Word which contain His law? Do you delight in them? Walk in His ways even when your faith is small or weary. The Lord is faithful to transform our disciplined duty into delight for those He has called to Himself.
Grace upon grace,
April
Growing deeper: Matthew 5:17-19; 2 Peter 3:8-18; Revelation 22
redeemed in grace 