Earth Shaking

When we watch or read the global news, we can easily have the sense that the world is falling apart. We hear of wars, earthquakes, violence, and economic upheavel and can be overcome with a sense of dread. The same type of feeling can be even more intense when we hear tragic personal news. News of job layoffs, close friend or relative extremely ill or dying, or a dramatic personal health diagnosis can send us spiraling downward.

In Psalm 75:3 God speaks and says, “When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars.” When the world seems to be falling apart, God holds it steady in His strong hands. When our personal world seems shaken, it is the same God who holds us secure in His sovereignty and steadfast love. We need not fear. Hope is ours in His grace and mercy.

An Accounting

Is there a person in your life that is forever reminding you of mistakes you have made. Perhaps it is an unaccepting parent or a friend that haven’t forgiven you of something you have done. That experience is truly hurtful. We all want to be forgiven for wrongs we have done to others.

Psalm 32:1-2 says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Christians are not perfect. We are just forgiven based upon faith in the sacrifice of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. God loves us enough to forgive our sins, but He also wants us to be transformed into His image. The one who truly loves God seeks this transformation with a spirit that is true and has no deceit.

Wise Words

Sometimes, I speak too quickly and the impact of my words can be hurtful, although that may not be my intention. We all have a tendency to rush to judgments and this tendency is growing amongst us as the divisions between us widen. What would happen if we all chose to speak wisdom rather than quickly speaking judgments?

Proverbs 12:18-19 says, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Our words have power, even when we don’t intend them to do so. When we speak judgments quickly, we can destroy lives. When we speak wisely, our words can help to heal brokenness. If we speak the truth, the good impact will last forever. 

Knowledge That Leads to Wisdom

We spend a lot of time trying to prove our worth. In this endeavor, we ignore advice and seek little instruction. It becomes important to us to demonstrate that we can do it on our own. At the same time, countless numbers of us also seek to become “influencers” by using social media to demonstrate the breadth of our knowledge and worth.

Proverbs 19:20-21 says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” We may think that we know certain subjects well, but we can always find someone who knows the subject more thoroughly. More knowledge and wisdom is always available to us and we will be wise to seek it out. It is good to devise plans, but we must always seek the LORD’s purpose, or our plans will certainly not lead to the greater good of God’s will.

Good For the No-Good

Do we cheer when good comes to those whom we dislike or even just disagree with? Or do we only cheer when misfortune strikes these people? Do we rejoice a little when someone of the other political party is disgraced? Do we feel joy when the team we hate loses? When someone who has hurt us suffers, do we feel like they deserve the pain? Jonah was angry at God when God was merciful to the people of Ninevah. Jonah hated these people for the atrocities that they had committed against Jonah’s people.

Jonah 4:2 says, “And he prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” God is gracious, merciful, and loving, even for those whom we disagree with or dislike. God will not withhold His love and compassion, even from those whom we dismiss as unworthy.