Source of Peace - 3/28/2010

Psalm 85:8-9, "I will listen to God the Lord. He has ordered peace for those who worship Him. Don't let them go back to foolishness. God will soon save those who respect Him, and His glory will be seen in our land" (NCV).

We have a lot of things to listen to in our culture; it's almost impossible to shut out the noise. We have the obvious distractions like the television, movies, radio, and the internet. We also have teachers and professors, coworkers, friends, and family members all contributing to what we hear and agree with. What do you listen to? How do you sift through the mountains of conflicting opinions, well-meaning and sometimes misguided advice?

"I will listen to God the Lord." We may not be able to control what we hear. But we have total control over who we listen to. I like how firm and direct this statement is. Almost as if to say, "I will measure everything I hear based on the one constant truth to have withstood the test of time: God the Lord."

The benefit of that decision is that "He has ordered peace for those who worship Him." This is such an incredible statement! What has God ordered that has not come true? By His very words everything we know came into existence. Worship him and experience His peace - the peace that is often referred to as "the peace that passes all understanding."

I think this is one aspect of Christianity that a non-believer cannot fully grasp. They don't realize that the peace God offers is real and makes absolutely no sense and cannot be attributed to "mind over matter." When faced with uncertainty, you feel this peace. When you face conflict, you feel this peace. When you lose a loved one, you feel this peace. It is the vivid awareness that all things are in His hands, and regardless of our circumstances, "we know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him." If you worship Him!

That's the catch, if there is one - you have to worship Him. Because it's easy to "go back to foolishness," as the verse states. Or as Solomon put it, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." Many people erroneously believe that once you are saved, you are no longer tempted and have somehow risen above all human imperfections - even though we are still imperfect. As long as we are in the flesh, we will have temptations! But according to scripture, He makes all things new! Upon salvation, our spirits are new and bound for His presence. When we receive our heavenly bodies, our inward spirit and outward body will finally be matched in pefection.

So while we are here, we can rest on the last line of this verse, "God will soon save those who respect Him, and His glory will be seen in our land." If you respect Him, it will be obvious in your life, by your actions. If this describes you, when will He save you? SOON! And through your respect for Him and how obviously you are quickly saved from trouble, He will be glorified. His glory will be seen in our land because of your respect for Him! That is amazing to me.

Lord Jesus, may your glory be seen in my life, that you may receive full credit for the awesome works you've completed in my life. Amen.

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La Palmera - 3/16/2010

Psalm 92:12-15, "But good people will grow like palm trees; they will be tall like the cedars of Lebanon. Like trees planted in the temple of the Lord, they will grow strong in the courtyards of our God. When they are old, they will still produce fruit; they will be healthy and fresh. They will say that the Lord is good. He is my Rock, and there is no wrong in Him."

This verse inspired me this morning. It may have been the image of the palm tree, which obviously I love. It may have been the idea of producing fruit in old age - Melissa and I had just recently discussed how retirement can either be lazy and self-indulgent, or an opportunity to serve God without any hindrances. Either way, I thought about how each verse can apply to my life:

12: "We will grow like palm trees."

How do palm trees grow? Fast and strong! Have you ever seen a palm sapling? I don't know that I have - they don't stay small for long. I remember in Belize, driving by a section of jungle while the pastor's wife explained to us that just four years prior, that jungle had been a corn field. They stopped farming it, and instantly the jungle reclaimed that land. There were tall palms there - the trunks weren't very thick, but they were imposing. Many palms can also survive hurricane-force winds. They can bend without breaking. Who wouldn't want to live this way? To quickly grow and thrive, while simultaneously surviving the worst life can throw at you. How can we arrive in this place in our lives?

13: "...they will grow strong in the courtyards of our God."

We grow in God's presence! That's how we can arrive at the place in our lives where we thrive like the palm tree. We become the strong, beautiful fixture on the horizon by His wisdom and guidance.

14: "When they are old, they will still produce fruit."

This is my goal, to be old and still serving God and furthering His kingdom. I like this verse because the word "still" is in there, implying fruit is produced in youth, but for those who are like the palm tree, it will continue into old age.

15: "They will say that the Lord is good. He is my Rock, there is no wrong in Him."

We will praise God! We will share what He has done. We will tell the world that He is good. He loves us - all of us! This verse is also prophetic. It claims they will say that "He is my Rock." Jesus told the parable of the two houses - one built on sand, the other built on rock. After the storms, only the house built on rock remained standing. For this reason, we do say that "He is my Rock," as the psalmist wrote, and there is no wrong in Him! His ways are sometimes mysterious, and always perfect. His decisions are always the BEST choices! He can be your Rock too! Thank you Lord!

Lord, help me to become like the palm tree described in this Psalm.

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