PSALM 90: THE FRAILTY OF MAN AND THE ETERNITY OF GOD

 

"LORD, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  2 Before the mountains were brought forth,  or ever you had formed the earth and the world,  from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  3 You return man to dust and say, ‘Return, O children of man!' 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom... '" 

Psalm 90

Lately, I have had Psalm 90 on my mind thinking about the brevity of life after the passing of loved ones, brethren, and family.  Death seems to be all around us.  People close to me are dying of COVID-19 and other natural causes, but also by accident and suicide, both young and old.  It is alarming!  As I meditate on this Psalm, I realize that we must walk in the shadow of death from the day we are born.  Man must return to the dust from which he was made.

"By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Gen. 3:19).  

God moves us in a flash through this earthly life into a final sleep.  We are quickly born, and we quickly die.  Although everything in life is controlled by time, God is not constrained by such things.   We human beings are here one day and gone tomorrow. We are like new grass that sprouts up but withers quickly under the heat of the sun. Our lives here on earth are indeed short.  Our lives are like morning and evening against the eternal nature of God. We would like to think that we can live our lives as if there was no end, but such a way of thinking is foolish.  

Psalm 90 is the oldest Psalm and was written by Moses as a prayer to God.   According to Psalm 90:10, our life span is 70 years and 80 years if we are strong. Yet such years are full of toil and trouble. But soon, our days are gone, and we are here no more.  None of us like to think about the brevity of life. However, God wants to remind us of life’s purpose.  He wants us to be mindful that our time is short and that we must serve Him faithfully while still alive.  He will hold us accountable for our actions.  Psalm 90 compels us to be sober and examine our lives.  This Psalm describes the frailty of mankind and his reason to acknowledge that God is eternal and man is not.  Why?  Because God resides outside the boundaries of time, which control and rule man’s thinking.  

In James 4:14, we are reminded that our life is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Thus, we must meditate on life’s brevity and our purpose in life according to God’s will. We must number our days so that we may learn to live wisely.  How often do people neglect their families, believing that they have plenty of time in the future to enjoy them?  How often do people fail to seek God, thinking that they can return to Him later, but it turns out that it is too late? How often do we plunge ourselves into sinful living, thinking that there will always be time to repent?  

I encourage you to read and meditate on Jesus’ parable of the rich fool in Luke 12. When we deceive ourselves, thinking that we have a whole life ahead of us, we behave just like the rich fool who was just concerned about “building bigger barns.” Little did he know that God was going to claim his soul that same night. Hence, let us examine our hearts, for our lives are short here on earth.  We must make the most of our time, taking advantage of every opportunity to draw closer to God and serve Him faithfully.  It is a grave mistake to assume that we have tomorrow, for we have been promised only today.  Today is the day of salvation.  Think about it!

I have chosen Psalm 90 in my study because it is unique.  This Psalm is attributed to Moses (Exodus 15; Deuteronomy 32). It has been suggested that this Psalm was written because of Moses’ painful events in life. (1) The death of Miriam, (2) Moses’ sin of striking the rock, and (3) The death of Aaron.  Moses lost his sister, brother, and the right to enter the Promised Land because of his sin.  I don’t doubt that his circumstances compelled him to reflect on them and pray to God.   

I hope you enjoy Psalm 90 as you study with me and meditate on it.  May God richly bless you as a result.

I.   THE ETERNAL GRANDEUR OF GOD:  (90:1-2)

“LORD, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world,  from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” 

• God is Our Dwelling Place:

Moses' prayer song begins with a recognition of God, acknowledging that God is our refuge and the dwelling place for His people in every generation.  God is the Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth.  Moses led the nation of Israel for forty years through the wilderness with God as their permanent home.  Through God, Israel found life, protection, and hope.  God was their dwelling place, and He is ours as well.  Moses praises God for His eternal nature, for He is our eternal Creator (verse 2).  God is the Creator of the mountains, the earth, and the world.  He brought His creation into existence to accomplish His eternal purpose.  He stands behind them as the eternally-present One.  He travails in birth over them, and He fathers them. He is self-existent and self-sustaining.  He is the all-powerful One, for He is from the infinite past to the infinite future.  

Since He lives above time, He dwells in the eternal present.  Such beauty is more than words can express!   It is hard for mankind to fathom God’s eternal grandeur because life on earth is defined by time.  Our frail and temporal character is more vivid when we contrast it with God's eternal character.  From eternity to eternity, there is no beginning or end to God. Since God is eternal, He sees it all and knows what is best for us.  

II.   THE FRAILTY OF MANKIND:  (90-3-12)

“You return man to dust and say, ‘Return, O children of man!’  4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.  5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:  6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.  7 For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.  8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.  9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.  10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.  11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?  12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”’

• From the Day We Are Born, We Live Under The Shadow Of Death:  (Verse 3) 

In the Garden of Eden, God declared that man must return to the dust from which his body was fashioned (Gen. 3:19).  Man must yield to God’s sentence to “return” to the dust.  God’s decree is part of His judgment after Adam’s sin.  And though Adam’s sin was not passed on to his children (his spiritual guilt), his physical death was.  Mankind carries the burden of mortality because of Adam’s sin.

"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead"  (1 Cor. 15:21).

• God’s Eternal Nature Is Contrasted With Man’s Frailty:  (Verse 4)  

Though God endures forever, we must return to the dust.  

“For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.”

Time is inconsequential to God. Although our lives are controlled by time, God is not constrained by such.  Our work, our sleep, our meals: everything in life is completely controlled by time. That is precisely Moses’ statement. And though a thousand years seem immense to us, it is meaningless to God.  The apostle Peter made the same statement in 2 Peter 3:8.

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Both Moses and Peter help us to grasp the eternal nature of God. God is not bound or constrained by time. Peter’s point is that man must not be deceived into thinking that God is slow concerning His promises, for He is not bound by time. God does not operate within such time constraints. God is eternal, and we can not expect Him to act quickly on our behalf, simply because our lives are short. Moses contrasts man’s nature of being bound by time against God’s eternal character not bound by time.

• Man’s Temporal Nature:  (Verses 5-6)

“5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:  6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.”

We, humans, are here one day and gone tomorrow.  Our lives are brief here on earth.  Moses uses three metaphors to illustrate the brevity of life. 

• A flood:

“5 You sweep them away as with a flood.”

It means to be flooded away.  Man’s life on earth is hurried as a house is tragically carried away by the rising waters of a flood.  The flood comes, destroys, devastates, and speeds away.  

• Dream or Sleep:

“They are like a dream.”

In other translations, it says, “They fall asleep.”  God moves us in a flash from this life into a final sleep.  Man is quickly born and quickly dies.  

• Grass:

“Like grass that is renewed in the morning. 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.”

Man is born, lives, and dies in the same way that the grass “sprouts,” living a cycle of life.  The grass bursts into life but is wilted under the burning sun.  Grass has a momentary lifespan.  In the same way, our lives are short at their longest because of our frail earthly existence.  We are like new grass that sprouts up, but under the heat, it quickly dies. Moses uses the image of morning and evening. Our lives are short, like a morning and evening against God’s eternal nature. Life breaks into this world at birth (‘in the morning.”)  It grows vigorously, but with a blink of the eye, “evening” comes.  With “evening,” life fades, withers, and dies.  We deceive ourselves when we think we have an eternity of life here on earth.  We live our lives as if there is no end.  That is pure foolishness!  

• Dismayed By God’s Wrath:  (Verses 7-9)

“7 For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.  8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.  9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.”

Moses continues this Psalm with the frailty of mankind because of sin.  Our sins are linked to death.  After speaking of our mortality, he goes on to talk about the frailty of humanity in light of our sins. Our mortality traces back to judgment for our sins. Our sins stand before God. Our hidden sins are exposed in God’s presence. God is aware of our sins!  Our sins are evident to Him.  Because of our iniquities, we live under God’s cloud of wrath.  God’s righteousness judges our sins.  God’s condemnation of sin dismays or terrifies us.  Who can stand before God’s righteousness?   

God’s wrath takes its toll on us.  

“9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.”

Our sins turn our songs into sobs.  Our lives begin with crying (the cry of a baby) and end with sighing.

• The Brevity Of Our Lives:  (Verse 10)

“10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”

Moses tells us that man’s life span ranges in length, possibly to 70 years of life.  Some are expected to live 80 years if they are strong or healthy. Yet these years of life are nothing but toil and trouble. Our days are soon gone, and we fly away.   The longer we live, the harder life becomes.  And though we might not like to think about the brevity of life, God wants us to be mindful that there is more to life, eternity.  We must be mindful that our time to serve God is short and that He will hold us accountable for what we have done with our lives.  God will judge us according to our actions or works.  

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

• Seeking God’s Wisdom:  (Verses 11-12)

• “Teach Us to Number our Days” 

“11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?  12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”’

Verse 11 is a two-part question.  

1. To understand the fear of God, we must grasp the depths of God’s righteousness.  Only those who are holy and acknowledge the depth of God’s judgment against sin can understand the dimensions of God’s wrath.  
2. And no matter how tarnished and broken man might be, he must depend on God's wisdom.

Verse 12 constrains us to think about the brevity of life. 

“12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

We must number our days to learn wisdom and live wisely. We are foolish when we think we have all the time in the world to live.  With this mindset, we make foolish and wicked decisions, neglect our families, assuming we have loads of time in the future to enjoy them.  We ignore God, thinking that we can return to Him later, thus losing our soul for eternity. We plunge ourselves into sinful living, assuming we have plenty of time to repent.  But we forget Jesus’ parable of the rich fool in Luke 12.  We behave like the rich fool when we think we have our whole lives ahead of us to do as we please.  The rich fool was concerned only about “building bigger barns.” Little did he know that very night his life would be required of him. Since our lives are short, we must make the most of the time God has granted us, taking advantage of our opportunities to draw closer to Him. We must never assume that we have tomorrow, for we are promised only today.  

III.   SEEKING GOD’S FAVOR:  (90:13-17)

"13 Return, O LORD! How long?  Have pity on your servants!  14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.  16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.  17 Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us,  and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!"

• Moses Prays For God's Mercy: (Verse 13)

In the final section of this Psalm, Moses prays for God’s mercy as he contemplates man’s fragility.  He asks God to return his favor to him and the people. His petition carries the concept of repentance.  

“13 Return, O Lord! How long?  Have pity on your servants!”

God is merciful to the humble in heart who repents from sin.  But God’s favor and mercy toward His people are conditional, for it depends on our obedience to Him.  Although God cannot repent, He can return to His people because of His abundant mercy.  

• God's Steadfast Love:  (Verse 14)

"14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

Verse 14 is a request centered around God’s steadfast love. Moses’ first request to God was to seek and gain wisdom to number our days. His second request is to be satisfied with God’s faithful love. Apart from God’s lovingkindness, no peace can come to us.  Only God (seeking Him) can fill the void that we try to fill in our lives.  Only He can give us spiritual wholeness.  God’s restoration (the “morning” of grace) brings joy and gladness in its wake.  Sadly, many use possessions and wealth to try to fill the void in their lives. But there can only be fulfillment with God. Trying to find happiness and satisfaction in other places will leave us empty. 

Christians must be different from the world, especially when we want to find satisfaction or fulfillment. We must not behave like the world and the ungodly when we seek joy. Our joy and our satisfaction must be in the Lord. We show our joy by worshipping God, delighting in God’s Word, and fervent prayer. But when our focus is placed in the wrong places (worldly activities, sports, social media, work, or anything else thrown our way to make us stumble), we find it difficult to find our satisfaction in the Lord.  Only in God can we find joy, healing, fullness, peace, and fellowship. 

• Establish The Work of Our Hands:  (Verses 15-17)

"15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.  16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.  17 Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!"

Moses’ final request to God (verses 15-17) is for Him to establish the work of their hands. This places a responsibility on our part to live in such a way to receive God’s approval (favor) for our actions and to establish our works. 

In verse 15, Moses expresses his years of suffering and those around him.  So he prays.

"15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil."

As he prays, he seeks joy and healing to commensurate with the past's sorrows and evils.  

In verse 16, God’s Grace reveals the nature and greatness of His heart.  They go hand in hand.  

"16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children."

The writer asks God to take action:  visible and obvious.  He does not doubt seeing God’s amazing wonders from His hand.  He acknowledges this truth because of how God has worked through them in the past.  So he pleads to God to show His glorious power to them.  His glory and majesty shine through His gracious deeds.  

Moses’ prayer ends with a double appeal to God’s “favor.”  

"17 Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!"

Moses yearns for God’s approval to rest upon His people through His enduring works.  The word “favor” is translated as “graciousness,” “loving favor,” “sweetness,” or “pleasantness.”  God’s favor is the same as His tender kindness. We cannot ask God to uphold and establish our lives while we live in sin.  We cannot ask God to approve our works while we fail to seek Him diligently and His ways above our own. 

Moses was a great example of seeking God and His ways above his own. 

1. Moses suffered to please God and have His approval.  
2. He left the riches of Egypt to live in the wilderness of Midian. 
3. Moses suffered the scorn of his own people, whom he was trying to deliver from slavery. 
4. Moses endured the criticism of his people and their attempt to murder him as he led them through the desert to the land of Canaan. 
5. But Moses was established by God because he trusted completely in God through their victories and difficulties.

CONCLUSION:

In Psalm 90:4, the writer states that a thousand years in the sight of God are like yesterday or a watch in the night. God returns man back to the dust from which he came, for man is frail and fragile before Him. According to verse 8, God knows us intimately, and nothing gets past God’s observation, not even our secret or hidden sins. We are an open book before God that lies completely transparent before Him!  God knows us and our motivation of heart. It is impossible to fool God!  Though we might fool and deceive others, God will not be fooled. Moses makes two vital points in verses 9-10.  

1. Our lives are lived out as we age, and our power, thinking, and abilities surrender to old age, and our years are finished with just a sigh.  
2. Our lifespan may be 70-80 years, but they are soon gone and fly away. 

Our Psalm compels us to number our days to get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:11-12).  Mankind must acknowledge that time is precious.  It is indeed a great truth that was retaught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. We must redeem the time, living one day at a time to get a heart of wisdom.  I call it a day’s boundary.  We live in the day, meet God in the day, and make our impact for Him in the day. Thus we must refuse to live in yesterday, the past, or tomorrow, for we must live in today to meet our God.  

Life is short, and God wants us to be glad all our days.  He wants us to be satisfied, filled with joy and gladness as we live out our lives before Him (Psalm 90:13-17).  When God dwells in us, that is, we make God our home, we enter into a cherished relationship with Him, basking in His presence always.  We partake of God’s goodness as He guides us and provides for us.  A home with God is a place of sustenance where He nurtures us and leads us.  God becomes our supreme priority when we dwell with Him.  When we allow Him to dwell in us, God fills our minds and hearts throughout the day and evening falls.  

God is our beginning, continuance, and ending.  We live and die in and with Him!  God, the eternal One, is our forever home.  Only by making God our dwelling home can we make our home eternal.  We become timeless and everlasting as He is everlasting.  Life does not begin to exist until God starts dwelling in us!  God must be our home and abiding place.  He is the only certainty that exists!  (Psalm 90:3-6).

Jesus, our Lord, came to show us the Father (John 14:6).  He taught us how the Father is and why we must be in His likeness.  Jesus came to earth to help us find the Father, live in His presence, and become like Him.  Jesus came to show us how to yearn to live in His Truth, Grace, provisions, and likeness.  So we must reflect on our journey here on earth and what God demands of us.  Remember that God will satisfy us IF we love and obey Him. The choice is simple: are we in a funeral march, or are we going home to the heavenly Father? The answer to that question will determine our joy quota in life.  Do we fathom that life is limited in length?  (Psalm 90:5-10).   Our lives have limitations, and one of them is length.  We may live seventy or 90 years, but that is all!  

When we compare our lives to eternity, we find out that life is short.  Thus we must ask God to help us count our days with a heart of wisdom to make the best of our time here on earth (Psalm 90:12).  Indeed, this world is not our home, but God is.  We don’t know what tomorrow might bring.  We cannot claim ownership of anything, nor do we have any control over time.  We must recognize these truths to live wisely in anticipation of eternity.  Those who ignore these truths are foolish and have no purpose in life.  Their end is destruction and a life separated from God eternally.  

Sin brings sorrow to life, but when we make God our refuge, destruction, disease, and even the explosion of our universe cannot harm us. Grace and Truth came through Jesus (John 1:17).  Those who love and obey God will be His recipients of Grace.  But those who rebel against Him will be judged by God’s righteousness.  The Truth of the Gospel is that Jesus left the Godhead, choosing to leave eternity to be our Savior.  He chose to become time-bound to bring us to heaven, for only the eternal God can impart the eternal life that man craves.  But man must hide himself in God to find His love and timelessness.  Therefore today is the day of salvation!

God does not see the length of our years but our quality of life.  He does not focus on time (Ps. 90:4).  He does not see our faces but our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7).  God is seeking those who have a pure and righteous heart so that they can become like Him (2 Chron. 16:9).  The heart is what God sees, for the heart is the mainspring of life.  God wants to know our hearts’ motives and intentions.  He also looks at our spiritual accomplishments and ambitions.  God wants our complete devotion.  He wants an attitude of victory despite our fears.  He looks at our hearts to see our faithfulness and trust in His promises as we move into tomorrow.  

God saves us through His Grace and our obedient faith to Him.  He blesses us according to our works, our quality of life, our hearts’ purity, our spiritual aspirations, not our years, our beautiful faces, and our earthly ambitions. God knows us intimately, and nothing gets past God’s observation, not even our secret sins.  God is the source of our satisfaction, joy, and gladness, so we must always serve Him faithfully.  Let us be compelled to always seek God’s favor in all that we do or say.

Psalm 90 is about the power of God and His patience. And though at times God chastises us, He is often patient and longsuffering with us. He is patient (longsuffering) because He loves us and does not count time the way we do. He is never rushed or in a hurry as we are.  

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”  (2 Peter 3:8-9).

God’s concept of time is beyond our limitations, for time constraints do not bind Him. Our lives are measured by minutes, days, or years. When God created all things, He announced that the morning and the evening were the first day and then the second. Although He gave us time measures as part of the creation, He is not bound by them.  What a blessing this is! God is patient with us. Even when we want to give up on ourselves or others, God is willing to give us time to get things right in our lives so that we may have a dwelling place and be in fellowship with Him.  

May we never take for granted God’s patience but rather seek Him and choose to be in His likeness until He calls us home.   May we always be grateful for His lovingkindness and patience toward us.  May we slow down our lives and learn to count our days with a heart of wisdom, learning to be patient.  May we enjoy each day God has given us and not worry about tomorrow.  May we always walk in the favor of God so that our deeds may glorify Him.  May we always make our time count (work, family, friends, pursuits, sleep, rest, worship, and prayer), for our time here on earth is limited.  May we always redeem the time, knowing that our time is limited and God will hold us accountable for the time He has given us.  May we make the most of every opportunity (Eccl. 9:10; Eph. 5:16), for time is a limited resource.  May we receive every moment, every minute as a gift from God, and live in the present, not yesterday or tomorrow.  Finally, may we always remember that our days are numbered, so we must manage our time well.  The days are evil, so we must be careful how we live, making our time count, both now and eternity. 

“Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’  15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.’”  (Ephesians 5:8-17)

Luci

THE UNQUENCHABLE THIRST

“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.  22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.  23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ 25 The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ 26 Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he.’” 

John 4:21-26

In the New Testament Law of Christ, Jesus is the foundation of our new temple where we come to worship God and find redemption. Salvation came from the Jews because Jesus, the Savior, came from the Jewish people, fulfilling all of the prophecies and promises of God to Abraham. And since Jesus is the only source of eternal life and the only One we must worship, Jerusalem is not relevant anymore, for Jesus is what matters. So now we are commanded to worship the Father and not a shrine according to the Law of Moses. The Father is seeking those who will worship Him the way He has authorized.

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."  (John 4:23-24)

Since God is spirit, we must worship Him properly.  Why?  Because it is a matter of the spirit rather than a physical location, physical posture, or an external ritual. God demands that we worship Him from the heart, for it leads to the kind of worship that He demands that we offer. When we understand God’s Love and Grace toward us, it will compel us to worship Him from the heart, the way that He wants. 

The Samaritan woman did not seem to fully understand what Jesus was telling her but acknowledged to Jesus that the Messiah was coming and would be explaining everything. But verse 26 is the focal point here.  Jesus told her that He was the Messiah, the Christ.

"The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.' 26 Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am he.'"  (John 4:25-26)

Jesus is the Christ, the Savior, the gift of God, the living water, and the only One who can offer eternal life. Prior to John 4:21-25, Jesus had offered her what would give her true satisfaction. He said to her, 

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14-15)

You see, Jesus, our Lord, supplies what our souls are lacking.  We are thirsty and hungry because of sin. Sin separates us from God, for our lives are not right with Him. This Samaritan woman was very thirsty for "this water," for she had had more than five husbands and was living in sin and separated from God. Although she was drinking the well-water, she was still thirsty because no water could supply what she needed. She was drinking from the wrong kind of water and finding only temporary relief. 

This is precisely the problem with our world without God’s prescription that can quench the thirst caused by sin or worldly pleasures, for no matter how many pleasures they try, the only enjoyment they can find is temporary, so they thirst again. They keep running to the wrong well, where they find disappointment, heartache, and loss. They reject Jesus’ offering of living water and eternal life, so they stand condemned. They reject the things of God in exchange for the physical things of this world. They are blinded by this world’s darkness when they could choose the Light that brightly shines and leads them to eternal life. 

How sad it is to see Satan blinding people with the things of this world, causing them to fail to see the treasures found in Jesus and His living water! We must examine our hearts and see what our Savior is offering.  He is offering something that is precious, priceless, and more valuable than anything this world can offer us. Since our Lord Jesus is the most valuable pearl in this world, we must sell everything to acquire it. He is our most precious and valuable treasure worthy of all!

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness accept the gift of God that Jesus is offering. Righteous and holy living is as essential to them as food and water are. These are the ones who can never get enough of the riches of God's Word to be satisfied. Their relationship with God is like the eating of rich food (Isaiah 55:1-2). Our culture's satisfaction is found in carnal pursuits and goals. 

1. Bodybuilding.
2. Weight loss.
3. Group therapy to heal the social ills.
4. And the empty-headed vain fashions that absorb our times. 

They promise to offer what will truly satisfy their worldly and fleshly desires. Everyone yearns to be satisfied with the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life. Sin fills their hunger and thirst. They desire lesser things. Jeremiah, the prophet, described this thought in Jeremiah 2. The people of his time are described as having broken cisterns that do not hold water. 

"But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.  12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13 for my people have committed two evils:  they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."  (Jeremiah 2:12-13)  

Fools reject what God is offering to them: flowing, clean, and pure water. Yet, they are eager to drink the old, stale, contaminated water. They deceive themselves thinking that they will still be satisfied with such contaminated water.  They would rather reject the pure and unpolluted water of righteousness, holiness, and godliness. Indeed, worldly satisfaction can only come through such a decaying way of living!

Those who love righteousness, because they hunger and thirst for it, understand what Jesus said to them.

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

The more we hunger and thirst for the righteous things of God, the more we are going to be satisfied. The more we are dissatisfied with other carnal substitutes, the more we will hunger for God and His kingdom of righteousness. The path of righteousness destroys self-righteousness because self-righteousness will bankrupt our spirit and cover up our need for repentance. Jesus is challenging us to examine our hearts, that we might thirst for salvation. Salvation is for those who sincerely and genuinely want it. Our spiritual bankruptcy must compel us to mourn over our sins and desire salvation, restoration, reconciliation, and righteousness. 

Only those who sincerely hunger and thirst for God will conform to the will of their Father in heaven. Jesus is standing at the door calling for true fanatics, who would eat and drink from Him and His kingdom of righteousness. Jesus does not want us to substitute Him for worldly pursuits, for He is not our hobby or past time! Those who are hungry and thirsty don't want merely a substitute either.  They hunger and thirst for Jesus' food and water. Those who have the right disposition of seeking, searching, and groping after the righteousness of God will be filled and satisfied (Matt. 6:25-33; Acts 17:26-28; James. 1:12; Rev. 2:10).

May the yearning in our heart and soul find the only source of eternal life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May we hunger and thirst for Him, our Manna, and Living Water, that we may be blessed and be satisfied with His righteousness. May we be renewed in Him by drinking of the fountain of Living Water, the One and Only source of eternal life.

"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.'"  (John 4:13-14)

"Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."  (Revelation 22:1)

Luci

"MORE HOLINESS GIVE ME"

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."

2 Corinthians 7:1

The song "More Holiness Give Me" motivates us to perfect holiness, asking God to help us add more holiness to our lives. Our heart is the starting and focal point, for we must look inward to add and strive for more holiness in our lives. As we look within, examining our hearts, we can perfect holiness in the fear of God. The sufferings and tribulations of our lives develop in us more patience and endurance. The testing of our faith produces steadfastness, which helps us to be mature and complete.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  (James 1:2-4)

As we walk by faith, trusting our Savior with all of our heart and might, we become aware of His unceasing care for us. So we must walk by faith and not by sight, casting all of our cares and worries on Him, for He cares for us and loves us.

"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.  6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight."  (2 Cor. 5:1-7)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  (1 Pet. 5:6-11)

Our patience in the midst of suffering and trials helps us to develop joy as we serve our Lord. Our prayers help us cast our cares on Him, for He is always near assisting us.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  (Phil. 4:4-7)

As we trust God and praise Him, our hearts become grateful because our hope is in Him and His Word. His Word can build us up and sanctify us.

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."  (Acts 20:32)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."  (1 Pet. 1:3-9)

We have a living hope because of the sorrows and grief of Jesus' death.   Jesus died for us while we were sinners without the hope of redemption and eternity (Rom. 5:8, 1 Cor. 15:3). His love and suffering for us must compel us to show more meekness in our trials. 

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  (Romans 5:3-5) 

Our purity and strength will influence and motivate others to do good. As we keep ourselves unspotted or unstained from the world, we can motivate others to serve the Lord faithfully, knowing that we’re just pilgrims and strangers in this world of darkness as we look for a better home.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. "  (James 1:26-27)

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."  (1 Peter 2:11-12)

Our godly and righteous conduct will compel others, even unbelievers, to glorify our Father in heaven. We can rest assured that when we practice God's principles of righteousness, we will be vessels for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful in the kingdom of our Great Master, ready for every good work.

"Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work."  (2 Tim. 2:20-21)

But we must acknowledge that to be purer, more holy, and more godly, we must put into practice all of our Savior’s principles of righteousness and become more like Him. Our Savior has left us a perfect example so that we might walk in His footsteps to please God. 

"For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."  (1 Peter 2:19-21) 

Thus, we must strive and make an effort to be more holy and pure before our God, becoming what God wants us to be. Since Jesus died for you and me, we must pray to God to help us perfect our holiness with fear or reverence that we might be with Him forever in heaven. "More Holiness Give Me." "More purity give me.”

May we strive to be more holy and pure before God.  May God help us to perfect our holiness with fear that we might be with Him forever in heaven.  May we examine our hearts to perfect our holiness in the fear of God.  May Jesus' love and suffering compel us to show more meekness in our trials.   

I hope the words of this beautiful song move you the way they move me!

More holiness give me, More strivings within,

More patience in suffering, More sorrow for sin, 

More faith in my Savior, More sense of His care, 

More joy in His service, More purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me, More trust in the Lord,

More praise for His glory, More hope in His word,

More tears for His sorrows, More pain at His grief,

More meekness in trial, More praise for relief.

More purity give me, More strength to o’ercome,

More freedom from earth stains, More longings for home,

More fit for the kingdom, More useful I’d be,

More blessed and holy, More, Savior, like Thee.  

Luci 

"WHEN MY LOVE TO CHRIST GROWS WEAK"

 

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.”’ 

Luke 22:39-65

The song “When My Love to Christ Grows Weak” reminds us of what our Lord and Savior had to endure and suffer before He was hung on that cross of Calvary. He prayed fervently when He was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane before they tortured Him and crucified Him. When our love grows weak for Christ, we must think of Gethsemane, for it reminds us of how He first loved us. 

 "We love because he first loved us"  (1 John 4:19).

We must have a deeper faith.  

We must increase our faith to remind us of Jesus’ sufferings and death in Gethsemane and to sustain us when we are weak (Luke 17:5) 

Jesus wept and prayed for us in Gethsemane.  

His soul was exceedingly sorrowful even to death.

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.' 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled"'  (Matthew 26:36-38). 

He knelt there to pray as a “suffering, friendless One.” 

He felt sorrowful and troubled while He watched His disciples sleep, whom He took to watch with Him.

"And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.' 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, 'So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'" (Matthew 26:39-41). 

And though He was troubled and in anguish, He still prayed and wept for us because He first loved us.

"Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, 'My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.' 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again"'  (Matt. 26:42-44).

When our love grows weak for Christ, we must seek for deeper faith by thinking of Calvary. 

We must love one another because He first loved us and gave Himself to die on Calvary.

"If anyone says, 'I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother'" (1 Jn. 4:20-21). 

When our love grows weak for one another, we must think of Calvary to strengthen our faith and give glory to God.

"No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised"  (Rom. 4:20-21). 

It was on Calvary that our Lord and Savior was crucified, shedding His blood for the remission of everyone’s sins.

"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left"  (Luke 23:33). 

At Calvary, our Lord was mocked, scoffed, blasphemed, beaten.  At Calvary, He suffered in agony on a bitter tree.

"And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'  And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, 'He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!' 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, 'If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!' 38 There was also an inscription over him, 'This is the King of the Jews'"  (Lk. 23:34-38). 

Though our Lord and Savior was in deep anguish, we can still see how deep was His faith and His love, as He spoke to one of the criminals that hung next to Him.

"One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!' 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' 42 And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' 43 And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise'"  (Lk. 23:39-43). 

We can clearly see His triumphant love as He died for the sins of this world of darkness.

"It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!' And having said this he breathed his last'" (Lk. 23:44-46). 

Therefore, since Jesus, our Lord, suffered in Gethsemane and died on Calvary, we must reflect on what He did for us by denying ourselves, dying to self, and bearing our own cross in full sacrifice.

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels'" (Lk. 9:23-26). 

When our love for Christ grows weak, we must reflect on His sacrifice because that helps us be more devoted and faithful to Him with deeper faith that will overcome this world of darkness in triumphant victory.

I hope the words of “When My Love For Christ Grows Weak” move you deeply as you meditate on what Jesus did for us in Gethsemane and Calvary.

When my love for Christ grows weak,

When for deeper faith I seek,

Then in thought I go to thee, 

Garden of Gethsemane.

There I walk amid the shades,

While the lingering twilight fades,

See that suffering, friendless One,

Weeping, praying there alone.

When my love for man grows weak,

When for stronger faith I seek,

Hill of Calvary, I go 

To thy scenes of fear and woe.

There behold His agony,

Suffered on the bitter tree;

See His anguish, see His faith,

Love triumphant still in death.

Then to life I turn again,

Learning all the worth of pain,

Learning all the might that lies

In a full self-sacrifice.

Luci

POLITICS AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA

 

"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."  

1 Corinthians 9:19-22

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about social media, its pros, and cons. It is an excellent way to connect with people, get news, and share information wider and faster with others.  On the other hand, it is a place where common sense and decency often die.  Why?  Because many foolish people spew hatred, lunacy, and folly without a second thought.  They do not follow God's wisdom in their social media.  

Thanks to platforms like Facebook, some take pride in sowing strife and stirring the pot when it would be better to show gentleness, kindness (2 Tim. 2:24), and love (Eph. 4:15).  The venom is sometimes stronger when someone is sharing and defending the Truth.  Many users forget that we can tell and defend the Truth without devastating and vehement vituperation.  Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, are weapons to instigate and spread division instead of promoting love and unity among brethren.  It grieves me greatly when I see my brethren starting brawls and outrage over politics, race, law enforcement, “guilt by association,” and nitpicking the church.  Surely we can express our faith and convictions without divisive diversions.  Do you think the Lord is pleased with that kind of entertainment and ungodly behavior?  What do you think?

The question is:  Do you use Facebook and other social media as a tool for the glory of God or as a distraction from spiritual priorities?  Is Facebook helping or hindering you from walking in righteousness and holiness?  

In Proverbs 29:11, we have a wise reminder.

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” 

Just because we can post anything, it doesn’t mean we must.  Be wise and ask “why?” then be sure you have a really good answer before you post.  Wisdom is to hold back speech.  There is a time to hold back speech to yourself.  Likewise, there is a time to talk and say it all. Wise and righteous people know what to say before speaking and when to speak, but fools spill everything without preparation, examination, and thought.  Indeed, fools talk a lot! They cannot keep their mouths shut.  They give in to their desires to let everything rush out of their mouths (any little thought, no matter how frivolous, no matter how unstudied, no matter how inappropriate).   A wise person speaks with caution.  He does not speak hastily, without examination, or offers his opinions as truth.  He rules his mouth to choose wise words; thus, he waits for the right timing.  A talker is a fool, for he talks arrogantly, hastily, and loudly.  He confirms his folly.  A fool loves the sound of his own voice, and he thinks others should love it also. He thinks he has wisdom to share, and he believes others are blessed to hear him. So he gets angry when he is eventually isolated due to his ignorant and obnoxious speech and thinking.

There is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7). But knowing when to speak and when to keep silent requires discretion and prudence, two branches of wisdom the fool has never considered.

Our social interactions must encourage others to come to God's kingdom. We must be salt and light.  It requires a great understanding of culture and its effects on us. Facebook is a dangerous social tool if one does not use wisdom and discernment. The way I conduct myself on such a particular platform may glorify God or hurt Christ and His church.  We must follow the example of the tribe of Issachar, who had “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”  (1 Chron. 12:32).

FRUITLESS AND UNGODLY DISCUSSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Trolling And Lying:

Some use Facebook as a means to troll others. This is seen in many political posts. Some create memes and images to troll with something completely false.  As a result, many believe these lies and share them with others, causing controversy, endless arguments, and divisive issues. How sad!  Memes are used to distort the truth, especially in the political arena.  We must be careful since many news sources can not be trusted.  Many political websites twist reality and distort facts, so people will click on the links and generate ad revenue. Take heed!

• Using Wisdom And Sound Judgment on Social Media:

As Christians, we must be careful not to be drawn into fruitless and ungodly discussions, especially over politics.  Social media can be a powerful tool, either for good or for evil. Today political debate is dominating much of Facebook. The children of God are tempted to forget their godliness when they enter these discussions, and sound judgment flies out the window. It grieves me greatly to see brethren against each other over trivial matters, and all about what?  It is like some of our useless and foolish discussions about college football.  Whose soul is lost or won? Whose faith is strengthened or weakened?  Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,  has taught principles of kindness and courtesy.  Sadly, that knowledge is suspended when we behave like carnal-minded men and women.  I don't deny that our faith must touch every compartment of our life and that politics must not be unimportant.  However, it is critical for us Christians to stress that politics must never be our primary focus, but rather God and His principles of righteousness.  God is ultimately in control (Daniel 2:21; 4:17; 34-35).  

On the Day of Judgment, when we're standing before the judgment seat of Christ, the only thing that will matter is not the position we held in the political arena, security issues, health care, and many other political issues that are thrown our way to make us stumble, but our godly and righteous living.  It grieves me when I see my brethren divided over political issues, knowing that the Lord is not pleased.  He hates those who sow seeds of discord among brethren (Prov. 6:16-19).  There is so much danger when one speaks or writes without using wisdom and sound judgment in his political statements or views on another brother or sister's post. You can rest assured it will influence the way people think about us, the Lord's church, and view us.  

Do you not know that when we proclaim our faith, but at the same time mix it up with our political views, it hurts our influence as godly Christians and faithful believers of our Lord Jesus and His Gospel Message?  When we attach our faith to our political leanings, we hinder many from hearing the good news, the Gospel message, that Jesus is offering for their salvation.

It would be better to remind ourselves that this world is not our home and that our citizenship is in heaven, in the kingdom of Christ, before we post on politics and stir the pot over unnecessary and damaging disagreements.  Remember that our conversations on social media must reflect Christ and His kingdom of righteousness.  May it never be that our efforts of evangelizing the lost be hindered because of our Facebook posts!  But if you must post on politics, I suggest that you be reserved and cautious. Much of what we hear turns out later to be false, and we are left looking ridiculous.  Keep in mind the wisdom that Paul expressed in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. 

"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Jesus once said, 

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”  (Matthew 10:16) 

Thus, before you post on any political issue, let your wisdom and sound judgment lead you to ask yourself.

“Do I have all the facts?  Do I really need to comment on this?”  

In Ephesians 4:20, the Lord instructs us saying, 

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."    

Here are a few wise reminders to consider.

1. Are your words and posts pointing others to Christ?  
2. Are your posts revealing the Light or darkness?  
3. Are your posts glorifying our Lord and His cause?  
4. Are your posts speaking in a way that shows grace to others?  

It is easy for us to post whatever comes to mind about any issue without thinking twice and thus end up bringing shame upon Christ and His church through careless and foolish speech.  It is pure foolishness to vent our opinions and end up insulting others who need to be edified and not torn down.  Such godless behavior demonstrates a lack of love for God and our neighbor.  It does not honor our Lord Jesus Christ. 

So before you post on a political issue, stop, pause and ponder about what you're about to write.  

Ask yourself, 

• Am I posting for the best interests of others?  
• Am I hurting how others think of Jesus, His church, and His principles of righteousness?  

If you insist on your political view, why not use your messenger and privately share your views with a trusted friend who is not afraid to tell you "no"?  It is very dangerous to rebuke or humiliate others publicly over political issues.  It is one thing to discuss an issue of doctrinal error or a political matter privately, but it is altogether different when we drag the issues into the public eye on platforms s such as Facebook, bringing shame and dishonor to the cause of Christ.  

Our godless culture does enough of this foolishness already without our help.  Brethren, we must pause and think before posting, especially about politics!  Ask yourself with an honest heart:   

• Am I honestly posting for the glory of God?  
• Are my motives pure when I respond to those who disagree with me?  
• Are we, you and I, posting, reacting, and responding graciously, kindly and thoughtfully, and patiently to those whom we disagree with? 

CONCLUSION:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, if you feel that you must post on political issues on social media like Facebook or other platforms, do it cautiously, with wisdom and sound judgment.  Don't ever forget, you are a Christian first and that you represent our King and Lord Jesus as well as His church, His kingdom of righteousness!  Post reflecting the priorities and character of our King and His kingdom.  Consider the words you speak both in person and online.  Choose to remain silent over trivial matters that will possibly hurt our Lord, His church, and our influence.  Remember, we must not cause others to stumble and hinder the Gospel Message because of our social media posts.  

Let us reaffirm our heavenly citizenship, and most importantly, let us refocus on our primary goal.  Let us resolve to give leaders their due.  Let us keep praying for godly rulers.  Let us keep living righteously and not defile ourselves, and finally, let us all resume our role as peacemakers.  Our God and His kingdom are unshakable, and we are on our way Home.  Remember that righteousness exalts a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).

May the Lord help us to adjust and correct our online behavior for His glory and His Gospel Message.

Luci

"HE CARRIED MY SORROWS"

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."  

Isaiah 53:3-5

The song "He Carried My Sorrows" moves us and speaks to us of how Jesus bore our griefs.  It reminds us that Jesus, our Lord, suffered anguish for us.  The prophecy of Isaiah 53 makes reference to Jesus in Acts 8:32-35.

"Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:  'Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.  Who can describe his generation?  For his life is taken away from the earth.'  34 And the eunuch said to Philip, 'About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?' 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.'"

Jesus, our Lord, suffered because of our transgressions.  Lawlessness is transgression of the law.  

"Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."  (1 Jn. 3:4) 

Because of Jesus' sacrifice and anguish, He was able to make peace.

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."  (Eph. 2:14-18)

Peter reminds us that Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust.

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."  (1 Pet. 3:18)

Jesus' suffering involved being smitten or struck (Matt. 26:67, 27:30).  His suffering also included being abandoned.  His disciples forsook Him and fled.  

"But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”  (Matt. 26:56)

 

Jesus offered His body as a sacrifice on the cross for our sins. The “cross” was the altar of the sacrifice.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."  (1 Peter 2:24). 

Jesus offered his own body on the cross as an altar, as a sacrifice, an offering to God for our sins. It was the shedding of the blood of the sacrificial animal (Isaiah 53:5). Through the offering of His body on our behalf, we have been reconciled, sanctified once for all.

"And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Heb. 10:10) 

The cross includes all that Jesus did to take away sin. It was not just His death, but the suffering, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension that made possible the offering of His own blood as High Priest in heaven. All those things were necessary for our redemption. Jesus had to ascend to heaven and sit down at the right of the Father to make purification for sins (Heb. 1:3; 9:22-28). The shedding of His blood was necessary for reconciliation to happen, removing our sins (Rom. 11:27; Heb. 10:4, 11). Jesus’ death provided sanctification and purification, taking away our sins. Jesus had to suffer intense pain and distress because of our sins. He “bore” our “iniquities” in that sense. 

Jesus suffered both in soul and body (Matt. 23:37). It does not mean that our sins, guilt, or the punishment for our sins were transferred to Him or imported to Him.  This is a man-made doctrine full of errors. The blood of Christ takes away our sins and cleanses our conscience. It was Jesus’ sacrifice, death, and blood that made the new covenant possible, the New Testament. Christ’s blood can cleanse both disciples (1 John 1:6-9) and alien sinners of all unrighteousness if they repent of their sins and unbelief (Acts 2:38-40).

Jesus’ sacrifice was well-pleasing to God. It was offered on our behalf, opening the door to God’s mercy for us.

"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Eph. 5:2)

"Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities."  (Isaiah 53:10-11) 

Jesus always did the things that pleased the Father (John 8:29; Matt. 3:17).  His sacrifice fulfilled the symbolic sprinkling of Jesus’ blood on the mercy seat in heaven before God’s throne. Because of this act, it pleased the Father to extend His mercy to all men. But men must do their part to respond to His mercy.

"Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."  (Rom. 8:8)

"Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you."  (1 Thess. 4:1-9)

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."  (Heb. 13:16)

We are redeemed by His blood.

"Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."  (1 Peter 1:18-19) 

We are justified by His blood and reconciled by His death.

"Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."  (Rom. 5:9-11)

We are sanctified by His blood.

"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood."  (Hebrews 13:12)

And we are washed from our sins in His precious blood.

"And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood."  (Revelation 1:5)

All these things are part of the blood of Christ. When we are redeemed, our sins are forgiven, we are added to the family of God and belong to Him. Redemption is equivalent to the remission of sins.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace."  (Eph. 1:7)

"In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  (Colo. 1:14)

Christ was despised and rejected, for He came to His own, and His own received Him not (Jn. 1:11).  Although He knew no sin (Heb. 4:15), He was crushed or died for us (Rom. 5:8).

1. Our hearts mourn His chastisement (Isa. 53:5).
2. Our tears fall as we remember His suffering (Heb. 5:7-8).

Jesus died and was willing to suffer this shameful treatment to redeem us from our sins.

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures."  (1 Cor. 15:3)

Our God is the Justifier of those who continue in the faith of Christ, grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. 

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."  (Col. 1:19-23) 

Thanks be to God for Jesus who died to make redemption, the forgiveness of sins possible for all people!

May we always abide in Him and His Truth, keeping His commands, confessing our sins, and clinging to God’s perfect love. May we walk in the Light, in perfect fellowship with Him, reconciled, justified, and right with God. 

We sing a lovely song that carries the Message of Isaiah 53. It is entitled, “He Carried My Sorrows.”  By Jesus' stripes, we are healed.  Through His blood, we can kneel.  Because of His oppression, we must be compelled to worship our King of kings and Lord of lords.  Since I have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ,  I must remember every day of my life that “He Carried My Sorrows.”

I hope this beautiful song stirs your soul the way it does mine.

He carried my sorrows, He bore my griefs,

Was pierced for transgressions, afflicted for peace.

He suffered in anguish, He writhed in pain,

Was smitten, forsaken, abandoned and slain.

Despised and rejected, He knew no sin,

Was crushed for His people, no violence within.

My heart mourns His chastening, my tears still fall,

My sin is the reason He gave me His all.

Chorus:

He knew by His stripes I am healed,

Through His blood I can kneel,

For by His oppression, I worship my King (my Savior, my King).

Luci