Scripture: “I said I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, And my sorrow grew worse... And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You." Psalms 39:1-2, 7 NASB Application: Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people." Normally, you'd think that keeping silent is the best way to please God. Sometimes, that may be true, but Psalm 39:1,2 takes us to the reality: Being quietly neutral isn't the same as being positively good. We don't live in God's kingdom by "stopping sinning" (spoiler alert: that's humanly impossible anyway). We live as saved Christians only by positively putting on the righteous clothing of Jesus Christ's glory. Only God gives us the power and authority to "live out" our salvation by doing His good work on earth. (Philippians 2:12) Only God gives us the "charge" to go not just from negative to neutral, but on to positive. Prayer: Urge us daily to live actively as positively saved people, Lord. Amen. Scripture: 'Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’ For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord , “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? ' 2 Samuel 7:5-7 NASB Application: We are the temple. If it's in our hearts to build the temple, i.e. ourselves, into something permanently dedicated to God, He will outdo us. He will shape us into magnificence. He accepts us as we are, but once we want to be a better place for Him to dwell in, He'll do the work and make the outcome permanently spectacular. Prayer: We come to You as we are, dear God, and pray to become better. We know that You will make this happen. Amen. Scripture: "I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids, Until I find a place for the Lord , A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” ... “This is My resting place forever; ... Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy." Psalms 132:4,5, 14-16 NASB Application: The world seeks a sheltering place where all needs are met and peace abounds. Odd that the inclination is to look for pre-constructed places made by others. But they also may be pre-corrupted. The better approach is to begin within ourselves. Create space within ourselves where we invite the Lord to have unlimited freedom to guide us, mold us, encourage us, and change us. He will come in and be the completely fulfilling sheltering place everyone seeks. Prayer: Welcome to 100% of our hearts, minds, and bodies, dear Lord. Amen. |
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