Encouragement

The Church’s witness

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“May those who fear You turn to me, those who understand Your statutes.” -Psalm 119:79

In contrast to the last verse where the psalmist does not pursue close friendship with the mockers, rebels and compromisers, here he seeks fellowship with other lovers of God. Why does he want that? Because people grounded in truth are a blessing to their spiritual family. Christians who take seriously the “one another” commands in Scripture toward our spiritual family will operate like the body of Christ before an unbelieving world. What a testimony to actually look like a cohesive healthy functioning Body! We belong to each other as we belong to God. He has designed us as His Bride, the Church.

So when we can’t see eye to eye on secondary, tertiary issues and so on, let us not become bitter, resentful or judgmental toward our brother or sister in the Lord. God loves them too and Jesus also died for them. When it is hard to love one another, remember how unlovely you were before Christ saved you and even now in your unlovely moments, that Christ does not send you a bill of divorce from Him! We look over offenses, we are quick to forgive and slow to anger. Satan would love nothing more than to fracture Christ’s body into a million pieces. Let us go back to the basics of the primary Gospel issue that unifies the Church. Start there then ask the Spirit to help you practice the “one another” directives within the Body of Christ that Jesus loves so much He was willing to sacrifice His life for us.

Grace upon grace,

April

Do Not Be Overcome By Evil

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“May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on Your precepts.” -Psalm 119:78

 When the psalmist is falsely maligned he entrusts himself to the Perfect Judge. Instead of taking matters into his own hands for revenge he leaves room for God’s justice. This is the same message Paul writes in Romans 12:17-21:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

It is wonderful to see how connected the Old Testament and New Testament are. The same message comes from One Author. Like Paul, the psalmist is so sure of God’s justice to be measured out accordingly that he goes back to studying the Scriptures! The wicked cannot win here. If the dogs of Satan cannot secure your allegiance with them their tactic is to worry, mock and persecute the children of God. Believers deeply rooted will not look on their trials with wringing hands, but will look upward with raised hands. They will worship and trust the Lord in the storms and in calmer days. Our responses to conflict, persecution and in peacetime all are part of the Lord’s school for conforming His people to Christlikeness. 

Grace upon grace,

April 

Holiness made Flesh

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“I remember Your ancient laws, O Lord, and I find comfort in them.” -Psalm 119:52

The psalmist remembers the ancient laws of the Torah. The first five books of Scripture were written by Moses, and considered very precious to the Israelites like the psalmist. He sees God’s hand of faithfulness at work in Israel’s redemptive history. The psalmist gazes intently on God’s laws drawing comfort from them. 

In reading through the Old Testament laws the common theme of the Lord’s holiness and justice emerges. Our God is Holy. Holy. Holy. He demands holiness from us. How is this comforting for people who daily fail God’s standard? Because He made a way for us to come to Him. God is perfectly just and will pour out wrath on all His enemies. But God who is rich in mercy will dwell with His redeemed saints. This is why God the Father sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins, interceding for us as a High Priest (Hebrews 10:1-23). It is not that we could ever approach Him on our own merit, in our own strength. He had to become approachable for us to ever come to Christ. Remembering God’s laws are good as we see His holiness proclaimed. 

Our comfort is this- Jesus died for sinners so that we might share in His holiness, imperfectly now, yet one day free from the effects of sin, enjoying perfect holy fellowship with the One who loves us best. 

Grace upon grace,

April

Grow deeper: John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; 1 John 3:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:12

A Better Friend

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“The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from Your law.” -Psalm 119:51

The arrogant mock what they do not understand. The psalmist was persecuted in this manner for living set apart, contrasting his convictions with the indulgent flesh. The unrepentant may enjoy temporal blessings, as God blesses the righteous and unrighteous with common grace. But the psalmist takes the long view, an eternal perspective which steers the rudder of his ship. It is easy to let rejection from peers cause us to despair. But we have a true and better friend in our Lord who is always patient with us, gentle and unchanging. His friendship is sealed with the blood of Christ, one that cannot be broken but will last in eternal fellowship. 

Take comfort in the psalmist’s example. As the dogs of Satan pressed in, he clings even more to Truth. The Living Word protects, sustains, loves and befriends saints seeking refuge.

Grace upon grace,

April 

Grow deeper: Deuteronomy 33:26-27; Psalm 9

‘Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery’ by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Compassionate Grace

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“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” -Psalm 119:50

The Lord comforts all who put their hope in Him. Especially in our trials, God is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He knows our frame, considering our weaknesses (Psalm 139:1-18). One of the greatest comforts a believer can have is remembering our Savior knows what it is like to suffer. Not only was Christ misunderstood and rejected, He was persecuted for our sake, even to death on a cross. Yet in all of this He did not sin in order to perfectly fulfill the Law as a spotless Sacrifice for our atonement. This is the great promise which preserves our souls. 

The psalmist looked forward to the coming of His King, yet today we have the privilege of looking back to see how God’s promise in Christ was fulfilled. The Messiah has come and welcomes suffering hell-bound sinners to Himself in order that we may be washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. Jesus is a man acquainted with grief, stricken with sorrow so that He could be the High Priest able to sympathize with us in our frailty. It is for this reason we are able to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence in our time of need. Yet our greatest comfort is the hope of promise we still look forward to. Christ has come but He is coming again. One day this life will be no more and our forever home, bound up in His Glory will take its place. 

Blessed are You, O Lord, who comforts us in our afflictions because You shared in our humanity. The eternal gift of life in You preserves our hearts which would melt like wax under life’s trials apart from our Comforter and Savior.

Grace upon grace,

April 

Grow deeper: Isaiah 53; Hebrews 4:15-16; Hebrews 11:13-16;32-40

Hope In Christ

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“Remember Your word to Your servant, for You have given me hope.” -Psalm 119:49

God’s promises and love are irrevocable. If God does not change and cannot lie, then His Word stands true today as when it was written. The first recorded commands of God still stand the test of Time. What did God say? “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). From there our Creator formed the heavens and the earth for all living things to dwell in. Then He called it very good. Whatever God does, says, commands or promises is certain because God never fails. This is our hope. 

Like the psalmist we hope in the truth we know found in God’s Word. He asks the Lord to remember His oath of covenantal blessings on His people. God will not forsake His own. You and I have hope and peace because the deep deep love of the Father allowed His Son Jesus Christ to take our rightful place that day on the cross. The wrath meant for you and me was poured on Christ. If God would go to great lengths for creatures like us, we can firmly set our hope on the rest of His promises. He always remembers His children- in your worst moment, the hardest day/season of your life- you are not forgotten. It is we who often forget His great love and sacrifice. A spiritual fog sets in and the father of lies slithers toward an opportunity to feed his poison. BUT GOD, in His rich mercy has given us hope, covering the elect in His sufficient atonement through Jesus Christ. He remembers His word to us, therefore we have hope and live.

Grace upon grace,

April 

Grow deeper: Ephesians 2:1-10

‘In Christ Alone’ by Keith and Kristyn Getty with Alison Krauss

Comfort, comfort My people

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“Remember Your Word to Your servant, for You have given me hope.

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from Your law.

I remember Your ancient laws, O Lord, and I find comfort in them.

Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken Your law.

Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.

In the night I remember Your name, O Lord, and I will keep Your law.

This has been my practice: I obey Your precepts.” -Psalm 119:49-56 (Zayin)

God is the psalmist’s comfort. Even when he is mocked for his faith, the psalmist knows where to turn. He makes it his practice- a habit, remembering, keeping and obeying. What exactly does he remember? What is the psalmist meditating on? What or Who is his anchor? He recounts God’s character, His past faithfulness and future promises. What we know of God determines how much you and I trust Him. What do you know of God to be true? This is a practice for every believer: to preach to ourselves what we know is true especially when our feelings don’t align. Emotions are fickle, moody creatures. The truth does not change which is why the writer keeps returning to this pillar. The psalmist knows God, trusts Him, and loves Him with all he has. An obedient heart is the fruit of this kind of captivating love. He wants to follow the Lord no matter the cost. The writer does not compromise with the wicked or his own sinful inclinations. 

God is our comfort too in times of ease or affliction. Living as a true follower of Christ has never been “fashionable”. Ironically this is what makes me cling to Him more. Letting go more and more of what the world thinks of you, instead concerning ourselves with what our Maker thinks of us. Yes, “the world is watching” and with this thinking our witness does matter. Yet how much more freeing to live for an audience of One, knowing God is watching you. I am sure if Christians lived with this mindset instead of caring about the praise/fear of man our missions would be bolder, unwilling to capitulate.

Through the work of Christ, the Lord holds fast to His beloved children. He has loved His own before the foundation of the world and will not forsake us. The God of all comfort will give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). This is His promise to remember today as you and I persevere in faith.

Grace upon grace,

April

Grow deeper: Isaiah 40 

Commands of delight

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“for I delight in Your commands because I love them.” -Psalm 119:47

Continuing his thought from the previous verse, the psalmist is not silent about what he loves. He delights in God’s ways. The more teaching, understanding, and obedience which follows, the more we delight too. The Lord provides wisdom when we ask for it, allowing us to grow deeper in the rich soil of Scripture (James 1:5-8). Then we are given thousands of opportunities each day to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit and mature as saints. Wisdom collides with training for our sanctification which makes God’s commands very practical for everyday living. This is the adventure of saints which will last an earthly lifetime. God is faithful to help every believer grow from curiosity, to instruction, to action, to eternally satisfying love in Him.

“I lift up my hands to Your commands, which I love, and I meditate on Your decrees.” -Psalm 119:48

Worship. Love. Meditation. The sequence is in reverse for our response to God once we digest a portion of His Word. The psalmist lifts up his hands in worship because he loves his God, because he has marinated in truth and found it satisfyingly sweet. There is no substitute for Scripture which will give us life and peace through Jesus Christ. Only God leads to everlasting joy which is why we too can lift up our hands in worship of the Law-Giver and Redeemer. He is our Great Delight.

Grace upon grace,

April 

Free to Live

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“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out Your precepts.” -Psalm 119:45

There is freedom, liberty, open space to live when we know our boundaries. This is why God’s Word is good for us. He has commands for you and I to follow, for our protection, because He loves us. They are also for our sanctification, to increase our love and trust in Him. With God on our side we have nothing to fear. No dictator, oppressive government or overbearing boss can take away our eternal reward. The significance of this matters for how we go about our day to day. Keeping an eternal perspective helps when we are tempted to give in to doubt, peer pressure, worry, fear or despair. God’s people live set apart, swimming against the cultural current. And let us be a free people- a people of prayer, living boldly, peacefully and joyfully before others. This is the power of Christ in you.

“I will speak of Your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,” -Psalm 119:46

The psalmist has courage to speak truth even before the most powerful men in his world. He is willing to speak up because God is his treasure. We cannot clam up about what we love most. Therefore God is not ashamed to be his God and the psalmist’s eternal reward will not be met with shame but with blessing.

Grace upon grace,

April 

Grow deeper: Mark 8:34-38

A Firm Hope

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“Do not snatch the Word of Truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in Your laws.” -Psalm 119:43

The psalmist has tasted the sweetness of God’s Word. He prays to always be fed. Feeding our hungry souls with truth will blossom into love, desire and a longing for more. For the spirit which is lazy in discipline, the delight of God’s Word will diminish. The one who seeks will increase in spiritual hunger, sharply sensing the goodness of Scripture. The psalmist prays for more blessing, hoping with firm confidence the Lord will not decline his heart’s desire.

“I will always obey Your law, for ever and ever.” -Psalm 119:44

It isn’t enough to be only a hearer and seeker of truth. One must be a doer of God’s commands as well. This is where our faith becomes practical to everyday life. Even though the psalmist is boldly resolved to obey God’s laws forever, it is with the help of His Spirit that any of us live in obedience.

Connecting with the previous verse, the root of fruit is desire. We want to obey Christ because we love Him (John 14:15). He has appointed us to bear fruit for His glory which occurs as we operate in His wisdom, strength and power and not our own. As you and I abide with God, He will help us live out this verse like the psalmist. 

Grace upon grace,

April 

Grow deeper: John 15:1-17