Today's Readings are: Psalm 4, Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 5, Luke 2:22-52
I love Psalm 4! It gives us such a proper understanding of how to respond when people speak lies about us.
I have a friend who has had such terrible lies spread about him over the years. I remember asking him once, "Why don't you just set the record straight? Why not go after the people who are spreading lies about you? You could have your attorney threaten to sue them for defamation of character."
He responded, "Brian, it wouldn't be worth it. I'd be playing into their game. God is watching over me. He knows the truth, and He will reveal the truth in time."
This man was a great example of Psalm 4:4 - "Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent."
Sometimes it is so tough to be silent. When everything in you wants to scream at the person who has hurt you, remember the words of David. And, if you live by those words maybe like David, and my friend, you'll be able to say Psalm 4:8 with a pure heart, claiming it as your verse:
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
Pass the Salt Has Moved
13 years ago
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I have been there myself, brother. Gossip is a terrible weapon. But my experience also confirms that God is faithful. Those with evil intent cannot escape his gaze. And so, in my own time of challenging ministry, I learned to practice v. 8, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, FOR YOU ALONE, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."
ReplyDeleteI'm now blessed with the ability to sleep in nearly every circumstance. Having lost a lot of sleep in years past, I praise Him for it every night!
Brian and all:
ReplyDeleteThe scripture readings for this day are posted incorrectly.
Ps. 4:3 the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call upon him.
What a blessing to know that the Lord sets apart the godly for a special relationship with him! We can know that he hears us whether he answers our prayers quickly or not or in the way that we want or not.
Gen 5 Any thoughts on why people lived so much longer than they so now?
1Chron 5 they broke faith with the God of their fathers and WHORED after the gods of the people of the land..
This is very strong language and indicates that the Lord considered that they were cheating on Him. People feel heart broken when they are cheated on and I believe God resonds the same way. Elsewhere in scripture He says, "I am broken with their whorish hearts which have departed from me".
Lk 2 Simeon and Anna both impress me with their passion and purity. Anna was a widow for the marjority of her life and was decicated to fasting and prayer and Simeon was a devout and righteous man, filled with the Holy Spirit. Is it any wonder that they were able to recognize the Savior the first time they saw when he was still an infant!
John, I wish I had your ability to sleep in every circumstance!
Nancy Paul
Thanks, Nancy. I made the corrections. It was a cut and paste thing on the title from the previous day and I forgot to change the passages.
ReplyDeleteI blogged on the other passages on my personal blog at http://bschulenburg.blogspot.com. You'll see some thoughts there and a link on the Genesis 5 passage. It's an interesting look from Answers in Genesis on how people could live for so long before the flood. I buy into the canopy theory on this one.
Ditto on John's ability to sleep:)