Quick Note – Psalm 30:6-7 – God’s Favor

Psalm 30:6-7 – As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”  By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

As I look back on the years when I was growing up, I can certainly say that God’s favor was on me.  He blessed me with a wonderful, loving family.  He put me in a well-to-do situation, where I could travel at least once a year on cruises to different parts of the world.  He gave me good memory and critical thinking skills, so that I became the top student in my school.  He gave me many friends who would encourage me.  He gave me a Christian home to learn and to accept the Gospel early.  He opened up doors of opportunity to expand my career constantly.  He blessed me in every way.  From when I was a child up until about ten years ago, He did not take His hand of favor away from me. 

However, in recent years, it has felt different.  Although I haven’t suffered from any health problems, although I am not less fortunate, and although I am not in dire straits, it still feels as if His hand of blessing has been removed.  It has felt like I have struggled more than I used to.  Which has caused me to ask, “Why?”  When I think about one of the reasons why, I think it might have been because of my pride.  Like David, in Psalm 30, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”  When things were going well, when life was great, I became prideful and thought that I would never fall.  I forgot about the LORD and how all good things came from Him.  I began to think that it was my skills, my effort, and my hard work that brought about the good, and I forgot that it was actually because God had blessed me. 

It was only after God took away His favor from David, that he realized that he was nothing without God.  Without God’s face shining on Him, without God’s hand of protection, without God’s blessing, David was nothing.  In his pride, David asked Joab to take a census of the people of Israel.  He wanted to know how many people were under his rule.  He wanted to stroke his ego.  But God disappointed with David punished him and the people by sending a plague that would kill 70,000 citizens (1 Chronicles 21).  It was only after this event occurred, that David realized that he was wrong to take pride in himself and remembered that it was God who had blessed him.  When God hid His face from David, David was dismayed, downtrodden, depressed, and brought down.  But when God’s favor shone on Him, then He was blessed and could stand strong.   

When we are blessed, when life is going well, when things are going our way, let us remember that it is not because of what we did, but because of God’s love, grace, and favor toward us.  Let us never forget that it is God who blesses us.  Let us not exalt ourselves, but bring thanksgiving and praise to the One who gives all to us. 

Quick Note – Acts 27:35 – Thanks in the Storm

Acts 27:35 – And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Paul had already gone through three trials after being falsely accused by his people for causing a riot.  Paul had already received multiple death threats, forcing him to appeal to Caesar to even have a chance to preserve his life.  Paul had already been sailing on a ship as a prisoner towards Rome.  And Paul’s warning to not sail during this time lest they incur danger had already been rejected.  Now, Paul was in a storm with the likeliness of survival being almost zero. 

Because the ship had sailed even though Paul warned them not to, the ship was caught in a storm that was battering it for fourteen days.  The sailors had tried everything to save the ship and themselves.  They had thrown out all the cargo, all the rigging, and even tried to bring down the masts and sails, but nothing was working.  They were going to die.  It was then that Paul told them that even though they had ignored his warning, God would watch over their lives.  Although the ship would be broken, no one would die.  To bring them encouragement, Paul took some bread, thanked God, broke it, and ate.  It was then that all the people on the ship were encouraged and ate as well. 

What I find interesting about this passage is that even though Paul was in the midst of a storm, a storm that threatened his life, he was still able to give thanks to God.  One of the hardest things to do when one experiences trouble is to stay faithful to God.  It is easy to blame Him for the difficulties.  It is easy to toss Him aside and to doubt His faithfulness.  It is easy to become bitter and angry.  However, that is not what Paul did.  In the midst of the storm, he trusted God and thanked Him.  We aren’t told what Paul gave thanks for.  It could be for God’s promise to watch over them.  It could be for the storm that taught them a lesson.  It could be for the bread he was about to eat.  But whatever it was, he found a reason to thank God.  And he did it in the presence of the people, who were encouraged by this act.  When we experience storms in our lives, we should still find a reason to thank God.  I’m not saying that you need to thank God for the difficulty, although it might be for a greater purpose.  I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be sad or feel down.  What I am encouraging you to do is to still find a reason to thank God.  You could still thank Him for His love.  You could still thank Him for His salvation.  You could still thank Him for your life.  Even when troubles come, there are still thousands of reasons to thank God.  So next time you are in a storm, find a reason to thank Him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

A Few Quick Notes – Luke 17 and 18

Today here are a few quick notes from Luke 17 and 18. They are different lessons but all important.

Unworthy Servants

Luke 17:7-10 – 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Often times, we feel like if we do the work of God, we deserve something in return.  I know a few weeks ago, I was frustrated with how I prepared slides for church, how I helped create ads for church events, and how I helped lead worship and seemed to get nothing in return.  I, in my frustration, said, “God won’t do anything for me.  I just keep doing His work and get nothing in return.”  Surprisingly, that same day when I went to an event that had limited seats and was on the wait list to get in, got in.  It was then that I realized that God does take care of His children.  He lovingly provides for them and gives them what is best for them.  But I also realized that I had no right to demand that God give me anything for my service.  Jesus shared our passage today with His disciples to remind them that when they served God, they shouldn’t expect anything in return.  God had already given them everything.  He gave them salvation.  He gave them a home in heaven.  He gave them Himself.  And even if He didn’t give any of these things, He was still God and deserved their praise, worship, and service.  They were servants of God, and if they did what God asked, they were only fulfilling their duty.  We as people are wicked servants, unworthy to serve a loving and perfect God, yet He still gives us an opportunity to take part in His work.  We must be grateful that we even have that chance.  When we serve God, we are only doing our duty. 

An Appreciative Leper

Luke 17:11-19 – 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

When was the last time, you thanked God for something He did for you.  It is very easy for us to expect God’s blessings in our lives, because He richly and lovingly provides.  We don’t thank Him for the breaths that we take each moment.  We don’t thank Him for the safety He gives us as we drive from home to work.  We don’t thank Him for the food He provides us on our table each day.  We quickly forget the blessings of God.  In our passage today, ten lepers asked for cleansing from Jesus, and they were healed with a simple word.  Yet, only one person returned to thank Him.  The rest were unappreciative of His healing.  Let us not take for granted what God has done for us.  Instead, let us give Him praise and thankfulness for His blessings in our lives, especially as we approach this Thanksgiving season. 

Don’t Let Riches Stop You

Luke 18:18-24 – 18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

What is keeping you from turning your life over to God.  Is it your love for your pet sin that you don’t want to repent from?  Is it your fear of ridicule and persecution from family and friends who are unbelievers?  Is it because you would rather chase the things of this world than follow God?  Or is it because you have so much in this world, that you find no need for Him?  This is why Jesus Christ told this rich young ruler as well as His disciples that it would be difficult for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.  There is so much stopping them.  There is their love for riches that keeps them from desiring God.  Like the soil filled with thorns and weeds, the word of God is choked from producing fruit.  There is their self-sufficiency based on their wealth, which keeps them from realizing their need for God.  There is their fear of what others will think, because they could quickly lose their power and respect when they give their lives over to Him.  But trust me, when I say, it is well worth losing all of that in order to gain a relationship with God.  He is worth far more than those riches.  So let go and come to God today.  Don’t let the blessings and riches in your life stop you from experiencing a life with God. 

Thankfulness for His Mercy

Psalm 130 – “1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

Being an American, last Thursday, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family.  It is a wonderful holiday that encourages many people to spend time with their family and reflect on the things that they are thankful for.  It gives people a moment to stop thinking about all the stuff they don’t have and to consider all the things they are already blessed with, whether it be the turkey and mashed potatoes lying in front of them or the cousin sitting right across from them on the table.  Unfortunately, this holiday has quickly lost its value as it becomes more about gorging oneself on food and planning for what sale items to purchase at the Black Friday sale at one’s favorite store the next day, if not that night.  Gratefulness has taken the back seat to consumerism.  I was actually getting quickly sucked into this pattern of thinking, so I was grateful for the few minutes before starting our Thanksgiving lunch, where each one of us at the party said something we were thankful for.  It was nice to hear the thanks for family members, food, and health, but the comments on gratitude for the Lord’s saving grace was few and far between in a family full of Christians.  I will not discount the few who did say thank you for the salvation given to us by Christ and the agreement of all, but it would have been nice to hear that a lot more.

Just going through that exercise made me realize that many of us forget to thank God for His mercy to us.  It is easy to take for granted something that cost us little to nothing but cost our God so much.  We can all remember the times when we were given a toy by our parents, which we enjoyed for a short while, before we tossed it to the back of the toy box for the next new thing.  We tended to do this when we were young, because we did not really understand the value of hard work that had to go into purchasing us that toy.  We discounted it because we didn’t know the price.  This happens often in our spiritual life, especially with God’s mercy.  We tend to forget that God did not have to forgive us for our sins at all.  He had every right to punish us and send us to the hell we deserved, but instead, He willingly gave of His Son to die for us, so that He could show us mercy yet fulfill His role as a just God.  He did this all because of love, all because He wanted to not give us something we did deserve – death.  The Psalmist in Psalm 130 made sure to remind himself of God’s wonderful mercy to him.  When we read the first verse alone, it sounds like the Psalmist is asking for deliverance from the depths, from some type of despair brought on by man, but the further you look into the Psalm, the more you realize the Psalmist was calling on God to show him mercy for his own sin – for the iniquities (vs. 3 and 8) that he himself committed.  He knew that in reality the Lord had no need to forgive Him but because of His grace, mercy, and steadfast love would forgive him for his sin.  He did not just let it go but went on to create this Psalm to remind himself every time he sang it that he had received mercy.

Let us take the time to be thankful during the last parts of this Thanksgiving weekend to show our gratefulness to our loving Heavenly Father for His grace and mercy.  Oh how He loves us!