"I Look For Someone To...Help Me...."

"I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought!  No one will help me.  Then I pray to You, O Lord." (Psalm 142, NLT)

Yesterday we lost an old friend and member of a local church I once pastored.  He was in his car, had chest pains, called 911.  They took him to the hospital, but to no avail.  He was a great guy who touched so many lives.  He was always an encouragement to me, even when I tried the patience of those around us.

Our text goes on inside so many people, in so many of life's circumstances.  The passing of one dear to us can bring some to utter these words of David, people feeling alone, abandoned by "friends," family, "unanswered" prayers, or as with David, surrounded by enemies.  But the, "No one will help me", is only defeated when we do what the David did, "Then I pray to You, O Lord."  The reason so many turn to "idols" is to find some kind of "tangible" person, thing, or whatever to ease the pain of loneliness and despair.

We have no reason for this, you know.  I sent a note to one of our friends who posted the note of our friends passing, and included in it the statement of Jesus, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."  But then I added the following question which Jesus asked Martha, the part of that passage which I do not usually include when quoting that great Promise of Jesus, but I thought it a ringing challenge to all of us, "Do you believe this?" 

And there we have it, my friend.  "Do you believe this?"  This question of our Lord Jesus Christ will stay with us the rest of our brief sojourn here on Planet Earth.  He will ask us this every day, perhaps ever hour and second.  Why?  Because life will continue to throw at us events which will challenge faith.  It started in the Garden, "Hath God said?"  And, it continues to this day.  Our response to, "Do you believe this?" will determine defeat or victory.  Choose victory with me.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that when there is a, "No one will help me", which may come our way, we always remember You, "A very Present Help...."  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

"Your Promises Are Backed By...."

"Your promises are backed (supported) by all the honor of Your Name....The Lord will work out His plans for my life, for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever..."  (Psalm 138:2b & 8ab, NLT)

The Hebrew and Greek linguists may find some translations, which are more paraphrases than translations, less-than-perfect renderings of Biblical texts.  Yet I consider some are good teaching and preaching-type renditions.  Today's text is a case in point.  I received the same kind of "blessing" which I receive when a teacher/preacher "nails it."

What more does humanity need?!?  "The honor of [Jesus'] Name," is indeed the "backing" of the Living Triune God's promises.  Sort of puts a punch in the phrase, "got your back," doesn't it?  I thought as I read our text this morning that if I ever have some "reservation" with some of the "outlandish" promises of Scripture, I need to remember that they, "are (ALL) backed by all the honor of Your [Jesus'] Name."  I would encourage you to think/meditate/pray on this further.

Then we read, "The Lord will work out His plans for my life...."  Only Jesus can do this.  Bible promises and the Blessed Trinity's, "plans for my life," are, "backed," and, "work[ed] out," by the Living Triune God Himself.  Any other attempts to, "back[]," viz.,  prove, or, "work out," such are just plain futile.

Father, in Jesus' Name, what a sobering reality that, "Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your Name," the name of Jesus.  Amen.

******************************

Still waiting the announcement of the Kavanaugh Hearings.

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

Another Way To Consider The "Whatevers" Of Life

"The Lord does whatever pleases Him."  (Psalm 135:6a, NIV))

Would it not be smart to also say, "Whatever pleases Him", pleases me?!?  Regardless, it would behoove the human race to accept today's text.  No one in history has ever opposed the Living Triune God------- and won.

You know as well as I that there have been times when "whatever pleases" us was more important.  For far too many, this has led to "mad at God," disillusionment, and whatever other phrases reflect someone who is about to give up.  Maybe everyone who has used the word, disillusioned, should reconsider the definition for disillusion: "to free from illusion"! 

There is little doubt that some take our text to be that of a capricious god, as though the King of the Universe were some despot or tyrant whose modus operandi was without feeling, love, compassion, not "sensitive" and responsive, answering prayers only when it was, "whatever pleases Him"; simply not true!  Taking care of you and me is, "whatever pleases Him."  The cross was, "whatever pleases Him."  Supplying all our, "needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus", is also in accord with, "whatever pleases Him."  Perhaps it is another way of reminding us that we should pray and live, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven."   

I think we all need a refresher course on Paul's conclusion, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."  I pray I am "learning" this more and more.  No; this is not some form of fatalism.  This is acknowledging that, "Jesus Christ is Lord/King."  This is an accepting-faith and admittance that you and I know nothing of what is best for us apart from our Lord Jesus Christ.  Pride keeps people from admitting what Solomon prayed when he was about to take over the nation of Israel, "I do not know how to go out or come in."

Today there probably have been and will be more examples of, "whatever pleases Him."  How we react will determine sadness or joy, defeat or victory.

Father, in Jesus' Name, While, "whatever pleases Him," may seem to some a passing statement, I depend upon it/You moment by moment.  Amen.

************************

Still waiting to hear when the Kavanaugh hearings will take place.  Thanks to all who have contributed to helping secure accommodations in DC.

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

"They Kept...Slapping Him In The Face"

"Then they kept coming up to Him, saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews! and slapping Him in the face." (John 19:3, Mounce-Interlinear)

What kind of God does this?!?

The scene must have seemed surreal to Jesus' Followers.  They had come to some, at least, understanding as to Who He Was/Is, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," Peter had once blurted out. 

Jesus was doing this for you and me, you know.  "Only His Great Eternal Love made my Savior go," the song says.  The "game of kings," as the Roman practice was called, went on for hours.  We don't know exactly how long our Lord Jesus stood there, taking blow after blow, but it definitely was longer than it takes to read the Gospel accounts of His Trial and Crucifixion--------- for me and you, think of it.

Now, humanity can know forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with the Living Triune God, have fulfillment of Jesus' wonderful promise, "In My Father's house there are many dwelling places; if that were not the case, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?"  Think for a moment with me.  What our Lord Jesus Christ called, "Eternal habitations," is what is awaiting you and me.  You and I need not despair, "as others do who have no hope."  Simply stated, Jesus died so that you and I need not, "Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." 

We can "sing and shout the victory," because our Lord Jesus Christ endured, "....kept coming up to Him...and slapping Him in the face."  Then the, "Behold, the Man!"  Then the crowd's, "We have no king but Caesar!  Then Pilate handed Him over to...be crucified."  And finally there were those glorious, conquering Words, "It is accomplished!"  The rest of this day should be okay with us.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You.  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