"Unless the Lord builds the house (nation), they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city (house, nation), the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,..for so He gives His beloved sleep." (Psalm 127)
What came to me today about our text is that whoever is "build[ing]," whoever is "guard[ing]," whoever, "stays awake..," whoever, "rise[s] up early," or, "sit[s] up late," our Lord Jesus Christ is right there, every place and all the time, "build[ing]," and, "guard[ing]." Hence, the great passage in 1 Thessalonians 5, "....that whether we wake (literally, 'watch') or sleep, we should live together with Him." We only can, "build," and, "guard," and, "watch," in fellowship/participation in Jesus. "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep"--------- even when we have to.
Jesus Christ is with/in/around us even when we are not building, guarding, or do not, "rise up early," or, "sit up late." The "work" is His, and only "ours" when we remember the words of our text. Life which survives and overcomes is, "....we...live together with Him." If you and I and the whole of the race need any reminder of anything today, it is the great, "Unless."
Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me more and more the lifestyle of, "Unless." Amen.
What came to me today about our text is that whoever is "build[ing]," whoever is "guard[ing]," whoever, "stays awake..," whoever, "rise[s] up early," or, "sit[s] up late," our Lord Jesus Christ is right there, every place and all the time, "build[ing]," and, "guard[ing]." Hence, the great passage in 1 Thessalonians 5, "....that whether we wake (literally, 'watch') or sleep, we should live together with Him." We only can, "build," and, "guard," and, "watch," in fellowship/participation in Jesus. "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep"--------- even when we have to.
Jesus Christ is with/in/around us even when we are not building, guarding, or do not, "rise up early," or, "sit up late." The "work" is His, and only "ours" when we remember the words of our text. Life which survives and overcomes is, "....we...live together with Him." If you and I and the whole of the race need any reminder of anything today, it is the great, "Unless."
Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me more and more the lifestyle of, "Unless." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
