Monday, July 31, 2017

Psalm 142

Psalm 142

This is an awesome passage. 

1.  "I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy." Mercy is given to us by God when he helps us and forgives us of our sin.  
2.  "I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles."  If you spend time studying King David's life you find someone who has the most brutally honest relationship with God.  More so than just about anyone other than Moses.  David took the good and bad before God and asked for help.  
3-4.  "When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.  I look for someone to come help me, but no one gives me a passing thought!  No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me."  This passage is written regarding David's experience with King Saul in the cave.  David is surrounded by his own soldiers but still because of his pursuit by Saul he still feels utterly alone.  But before he falls into complete despair he finds hope in God.
5.  This is a verse that is a fix of priorities.  We all need this verse.  "Then I pray to you, O Lord.  I say 'You are my place of refuge.  You are all I really want in life.'"  
6.  "Hear my cry, for I am very low.  Rescue me from my persecutors for they are too strong for me."  He asks God to rescue him and when people are against you he is the best place to look not to gossiping about your problem.  Pray and seek God.  
7.  But the question could be asked why would God bother to rescue you?  Because it glorifies him to help us.  "Bring me out of prison so I can thank you.  The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me."  See when God helps you, you in turn praise him and others see that.  


Monday, July 24, 2017

But he did

But He did

  At one point I was online and I came across an extremely arrogant and demeaning statement.  It said something to the effect of Jesus didn't die for my sins because he wasn't a certain skin tone or race of people.  It's arrogant because you are unwilling to accept his sacrifice on the cross.  It's at the same time disrespectful because of the love displayed by Christ and the blood shed for sinful man.  John 3:16-17 is pretty clear about who he did and did not die for.  "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."
  When it speaks of the world and God so loving it that includes everyone on it.  If you want to say he didn't die for your sins because of any exemption or excuse you have rejected God and that is a bad place to be and God will humble you.   You can bow willingly or unwillingly to God. Scripture is really clear as to your state as a sinner. Romans 3:23 "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard."  He is Holy we are not.  
Philippians 2:5-10  
"5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6Though he was God,a
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7Instead, he gave up his divine privilegesb;
he took the humble position of a slavec
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,d
8he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."  
  But there is hope.  Ephesians 2:4-5 "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.  It is only by God's grace that you have been saved."  We couldn't save ourselves if we tried we need the perfect sacrifice and that was Jesus Christ.  God has provided for us even the most arrogant and disrespectful towards his sacrifice he provided for them too.  
  You have a savior and perfect way for salvation if you but humble yourself.  For the Christian there is a Savior who has been tested that you can relate to.  Hebrews 2:14-18 
"14Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who hadg the power of death.15Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
16We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters,h so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested."