How Do We Stop Stuffing Ourselves on the Smorgasbord of Cultural Delights?
Good Morning Friends,
Let’s face it we are spoiled spiritually. We live in a world where people allow themselves to be limited by their fear of disappointment, criticism and emotional pain. We live in a world where our negative thoughts work against us. This is a diet for disaster. In response we must praise God and seek a solution in Him…For when we allow God to fill our desires…God to fill us with what He wants, then we can begin tasting God’s Goodness. We have the best of Bible teachers at our disposal. We have small groups. We have choirs and devotionals, we have great Christian music and yet the pain and the evil of this world still exist. The pews on Sunday mornings are still not full. We live in a culture of excess. So how do we eat the right spiritual foods with all the Christmas parties coming? Friends, it is time we matured in the faith, staying hungry for God. It is time we exercised our faith every day, working out with Jesus… taking His light into the world…the light that shines bright when we reflect God’s love even though we have no clue where we are. Still I wonder, How Do We Stop Stuffing Ourselves on the Smorgasbord of Cultural Delights?
Scripture: Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 34 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s scripture is an acrostic poem by David. It is a work of love and art. It is an act of discipline. In the Hebrew, each verse starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the 22 letters were consonants. Something is lost in the translation. In the twenty two verses of the Psalm, the first eleven are on praise and the second eleven on instruction. It was written to praise and honor God for helping David outwit and get away from Abimelech who was pursuing him. Maybe we should take such care in the praise and instruction of our worship. Maybe we need God’s help in outwitting our challenges.
Afflicted, run to God… run with God in His Goodness.
Boast in Him.
Confront your fear by living and breathing God.
Disciples be delivered from your despair.
Extol the Lord at all times.
Fear no more.
Give God the glory that He keeps us from evil. How good is all His greatness!
Into the deepest desires of our hearts He takes us.
Jesus is here as a warm smile in our hearts that frees us from our anxiety.
King of Kings be kind to us.
Lord of Lords help us to lust for this life you intend for us to live.
Move us close to you always making things better.
New life and hope you bring.
Oppressed, we plea for your help that we might obey.
Prayers we offer to you God as we pursue your peace and praise your power.
Quite our hearts.
Run to us as we run to you God.
Seeking you Lord we witness that you have always answered what we needed to hear.
Taking comfort that you are in control, we witness your wisdom.
Under your wing we are protected and taught.
Very God and Very man Jesus redeems the souls of His servants.
Xmas dreams become realities revealed in the Holy Spirit.
Yuletide cheers are carried over into our very character as we praise God.
Zenith of Christ’s influence permeates our very being when we choose wisely.
Pray that this season we be disciplined. Pray we acknowledge that God’s order of things is always best. Pray we praise God because He is the origin and owner of our praise. Pray that we reflect this praise in word and deed. Pray that the praise be continual. Pray that we become a blessing all the time. Pray that our vision of God never be small, blurred or blind but magnified in nature and in all his creations. Pray that we become the lens though which the world views God, reflecting His bright love. Pray that we have life and have it in abundance. Pray that we avoid those who would do us harm by the wisdom of the Lord. Pray that our faith would always be strong enough to put God between us and our circumstances. Pray that our unbelief would never be so strong as to put our circumstances between us and God. Pray that we never settle for rotten spiritual fruit but seek that which is living directly from the tree…right off the vine. Pray that we love one another, worship spiritually and proclaim how wonderful God is. Pray that we taste and see.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 