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What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us? Psalms 124:2
We are wired for relationship. From the very beginning God knew this. The only time he saw something was not good was when man was alone.
He created woman for relationship. Not just the marriage relationship, but relationship in the emotional, physical and spiritual realm.
But when sin entered our world, relationship was irreparably damaged. Greed, jealousy, shame and hopelessness replaced the unity, love and mercy of relationship. Faith, hope and love, the cornerstones, of relationship died.
We talk about how Jesus came to offer forgiveness of our sins and that is true, but the ultimate reason for that sacrifice was to restore relationships, first with God the Father, and then each other.
The effects of the pandemic are just now starting to bloom. Violence has increased. Distrust is at an all-time high. Fear and anger seem to run rampant.
Ironically, while we are wired for relationship, we also have a penchant for revenge.
When your beliefs are challenged. You may react defensively in the name of Jesus. (FYI, God doesn’t need our help in this regard.)
When you are told to do something you know is wrong. You are tempted to attack the person who is in charge.
When you are ridiculed and judged for your failures. You may feel guilty or anger at the person.
When your words of encouragement return void. You may try to shame those who didn’t respond as you’d hoped.
When you sit down at an empty lunch table at school and no one joins you. You listen to the lies that you’re not worthy.
When those times, come, remember the words of the Psalmist. God is on your side. Jesus is there with you and totally understands. The Holy Spirit will remind you of who you are if you listen to His voice.
The psalmist finishes his song with this reminder, “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 124:8)
The enemy voices have no power over you unless you choose to give them the power.
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Several years ago I remember buying my dream truck. I’d done the research, I knew what I wanted and went for it! I still remember driving that truck off the lot. I love the smell of a new car, don’t you?
I also remember the day the repossession company towed away my dream truck. The cost of operating it, plus the payments were more than I expected. As a result, I lost my dream truck. I didn’t count the cost.
The failure to count the cost has resulted in homes being lost, marriages to fail, companies to fold and dreams to die. Counting the cost is vital to success relationally, emotionally and spiritually.
When Jesus called his disciples he made no grandiose promises of the life before them. He makes is clear that life following Jesus would not be easy. It would involve sacrifice. It promised humiliation and misunderstanding.
Today, we have crosses on our walls, our cars and even tattooed into our skin as a symbol of allegiance to Jesus. That wasn’t the case in Jesus’ time. Crosses meant pain, suffering humiliation, sacrifice and death. Once you had a cross with your name on it, your life was over!
Following Jesus is more than a prayer or going to church when you have time. It’s more than a bumper sticker or a social media post.
Cross bearing is painful, voluntary, at times humiliating and always involves sacrifice. Don’t take following Jesus lightly.
Count the cost, and if you are willing, if your think life with Jesus is better than the life you can provide for yourself, pick up his cross and follow him.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem. Psalms 122:1-2
Have you ever received an invitation to something and jumped at the chance because it was an exciting event, and an adventure that you look forward to?
I have a friend who has season tickets to a local professional team. When he invites me to a game, I jump at the chance. It doesn’t matter who they are playing, I just look forward to the atmosphere!
In Psalm 122, David is excited when he is invited to worship in Jerusalem with other believers.
Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship just as the church is the center of Christian worship today.
David describes Jerusalem as being impenetrable. Nothing can attack it or defeat it. His place of safety, support, and security.
Now, we know physically that was not true for the city of Jerusalem, but spiritually speaking it was.
Jesus made a similar claim about the church. The walls of hell will not stand against it. The church is the strength of the believer to the glory of Jesus.
The church, as with Jerusalem, should be a place of unity and peace among God’s people. It should be a place where God’s people pray for harmony and prosperity.
When the church is at peace within its walls, the struggles outside seem less.
When the church focuses on the blessings of God and shows gratitude for all He’s done it glorifies the Father and strengthens the believers.
It’s the unity of believers that gives God’s people strength, purpose, and protection.
Never lose sight of the value of worshiping in a group, in person. When we worship in person we glorify the creator and are an encouragement to each other.
You’ve received the invitation! Get excited at the opportunity!
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Philippians 2:6
If you loved someone and they were in trouble, what would you do to save them?
We see stories everyday of heroes. Men and women who give their lives to save others. We even idolize them and for good reason. We say they have given their lives in ultimate sacrifice.
These men and women go to work everyday not knowing if they will return.
They chose what they do to help the very people who may at any moment turn on them in violence.
They risk their lives because of love for others only to have their love met with hate.
They risk their lives knowing that if they perish their sacrifice will leave a hole in the lives of those they leave behind.
While I admire and pray for these brave men and women, and appreciate what they do for us, there is one who gave far more than they could ever give.
Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice. Not only did he die for us, he gave up a Kings mansion. Imagine, living as the son of God. Imagine being God himself. Imagine moving out of His mansion, and giving up all of his power to live with a bunch of people that he knew would reject him. But he loved them anyway, and he loves us still.
How I suffer in far-off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar. Psalms 120:5
Have you ever been far from home? You are on vacation or away at school or perhaps your job has taken you away from the familiar surroundings of family and friends.
You love what you do. You have a good life. You feel truly blessed. Yet there is an emptiness, a longing for the stable structure of the familiar?
In Old Testament times Jerusalem and the Temple was home to the Hebrews. It was there that God dwelt. It was in Jerusalem that one felt truly at home socially, ethnically, and emotionally.
But life happened. Through exile and other things the Hebrews were scattered around the Mediterranean world. A few times a year they would go ‘home’ to celebrate God’s goodness, worship His faithfulness and reconnect with family and friends.
When they were with God and His people, life was good. But then the cycle would repeat. Life called them away with a longing for ‘next time in Jerusalem’.
Have you ever felt that longing? Perhaps sin has lured you away? Maybe it’s just the busyness of life. “Weekends are the only time I have for me.” It could be a bad experience when the body of Jesus abused or failed you.
Maybe it’s time to come home. Maybe you need to return to Jerusalem. There is an emptiness when we are far from Jesus. An emptiness he never intended.
Don’t allow the failure of people or the busyness of life keep you from enjoying Jesus!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 