Old Sandals

“When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one time as well as the other so that mortals cannot predict their future.” Ecc. 7:14

The good times don’t always roll.  That is just the way life is.  And when they don’t, how should we respond? “Why me, God?”  “This isn’t fair, God!”  “If God is good, how could He let this happen?”  No.  The advice here is to stop and consider.  Consider that God is the God of the good times and the bad times.  He works in ways that are often mysterious to us.  We may not be able to predict our future, but we may be certain that He alone who knows the end from the beginning has it well under control.

Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. Ps. 55:22

No matter the size of your burden.  Sometimes, it’s just a gentle toss.  Sometimes, it’s a heave.

 

“I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation…” Ps. 40:10

This is the challenge we face: to speak of God’s faithfulness.  His salvation.  To point men and women – the people we come in contact with – to the true and living God.  To nudge them, as it were, in Heaven’s direction.

Perhaps, most of the time, a nudge is all we can really accomplish.  God the Holy Spirit must do the rest.  But a nudge is better than nothing.

Pray for humility,  pray for courage, and nudge on!

“Our God comes; he does not keep silence.” Ps. 50:3

Sometimes I think that, even though daily “the heavens declare the glory of God”, God Himself is silent.  If He speaks at all, it is with a still small voice.

This verse reminds me that a day is coming when God will manifest His glory in a way that is loud and clear and unmistakable. He will “come”.

Until then, Lord, speak to me that I may speak – as clearly, as loudly as I can.

“Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but you will remain… your years have no end.”  Psalm 102:25-27

All things are temporal.  Short-lived.  Even the universe itself.  God alone is eternal.

“May they fear you (O King) while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!” (Ps. 72:5)

David was a great king over Israel.  Many psalms are written around this same theme:  the greatness of the King, the endurance of his reign.  Yet David was just a man and, like all men, his years were few. 

This psalm points to the great King who is King of Kings.  The sun may not forever endure, but his kingdom surely will.  It will have no end

“Wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.” (Ps. 35:15,16)

This scripture must be in part a prophesy of the suffering our Lord would experience.  He was tempted in all points as we are.  He was acquainted with grief. 

And yet, in spite of it all, he was faithful to God, his Father.  He did not turn out of the way when the way became extremely difficult – indeed, impossible apart from the grace of God.  And angels came and ministered to him.

He is our great high priest.  Our Savior.  Our example. 

“The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  (John 4:14)

What a vivid picture of the divine goings on in the heart of a Christian!  Is your life like a spring, welling up and overflowing to the thirsty world around you? 

“Teach us to number our days, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Ps.90:12)

In many ways life is like a bag of potato chips. You eat one, then another. Without thinking. Before you know it, they’re all gone.

But life isn’t really like a bag of potato chips. The bag is the Lord’s. It is not ours to consume mindlessly. Furthermore, He alone knows how many chips are in the bag.

So eat slowly. Savor each one, as if it were your last. And remember to give thanks every time you reach in for another one.