YEAR 1, WEEK 30, Day 7, Sunday, 28 July 2024

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 28 July 2024:

Psalm 30:3 — O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

David praises the LORD for victory, healing, rescue, and restoration – for salvation. While David was certainly grateful for the times when God saved his life from various enemies and dangers, David praised God for an eternal salvation for which he would “give thanks to [God] forever.” (Psalm 30) David understood that this life was temporary, but he also understood that people are eternal beings who will either live with God or apart from Him, now and forever. Because David trusted in the LORD, he could proclaim confidently, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

Furthermore, as the title indicates, we know that David wrote this psalm for the dedication of the temple which wouldn’t take place in David’s lifetime (1 Kings 8:63). David encourages God’s “saints” to sing His praises and to give thanks to His holy name based on the assurance (v. 6) of God’s presence (which would be represented by the Temple), protection, and provision (v. 6) in the present and for eternity. David also wanted the saints to remember that God’s favor for His people was solely an act of God’s grace and mercy (v. 10), not something they deserved. This is a point we must never, ever forget. Our assurance in Christ is not based on our love for Him but rather His love for us; not based on our righteousness but His; not based on our fidelity but His. What makes “Amazing Grace” so amazing is that God knows us, every sinful part of us, and loves us anyway. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He gave up everything to give us everything when we deserved not just nothing but punishment and damnation – He took that penalty upon Himself; why? Because He loves us. Why does He love us? Because He loves us, period. Read, again and again, if need be, Romans 8. Nothing can separate us from God’s unfathomable love, so what is stopping you from fully enjoying it and loving Him and others with all that you are?

If you are a Christian, God’s love, Spirit, presence, power, protection, and provision have been freely and fully given to you through Christ already, everything you need to live the life God intends for you into eternity (see 2 Peter 1:3-15 below) – you didn’t earn it and you couldn’t achieve it – it was granted to you as a gift of love through the tremendous cost of Christ crucified. However, having it isn’t the same as experiencing it or manifesting it in your life, much like having a flashlight in the dark isn’t much use until you decide to turn it on. Obedience through faith (trust in action) produces the results of God’s promises, or as the Bible says in many places, faithful obedience bears fruit. Yes, God regularly gives us what we don’t deserve and blesses us despite our sins, but remember what God intend for us – “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29) Saving faith matures. There is no growth without Christ, but where there is no growth it is without Christ.

• Deuteronomy 7:7-9 – It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery…. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments….
• 2 Peter 1:3-15 — His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Psalm 30:5 – Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Your trials won’t last forever. They are nothing compared to what God has in store for you for eternity.

• 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 — For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalm 30:6-8 – 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. To you, O LORD, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy….

God will give you challenges when you need them to remind you of your total dependence on Him. When you start to trust in self rather than your Savior, God will humble you for your benefit. When trials come, draw closer to Him not further away, and remember, it isn’t happening to you, it is happening for you. Trust Him.

• Proverbs 11:2 — When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
• Proverbs 29:23 — One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
• Proverbs 16:18 — Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
• James 4:6 — Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
• James 4:10 — Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
• Jeremiah 9”23-24 — Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
• Proverbs 3:11-12 — My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

There are many reasons why God will let you experience hard people and hard times, not solely to address a pride problem. When you encounter challenging people and circumstances, God won’t necessarily directly reveal the reason or what you should do specifically, and Satan will most assuredly tempt you with doubts and seek to deceive you into believing sin is required to address the situation at hand. This is a test and an opportunity to glorify God and grow in Christlike character by seeking the LORD and His will in the relationship and moment, with (now, this is essential) thanksgiving and gratitude, understanding that your perfect and perfectly loving, sovereign LORD has given this to you on purpose for His purpose for you (John 17:3, 22-23; Romans 8:29). The reason humility is so important is because pride prevents you from learning what God wants you to learn in this schoolhouse of suffering. Pride blames, deflects, defends, justifies, protests, grumbles, and doubles-down rather than submitting and supplicating. Too often we seek to fix the world around us rather than our hearts, which is God’s objective. So, we don’t share the Father’s heart, like Martha (Luke 10:40) or the brother of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Accept with thanksgiving whatever situation God gives you today as your assignment and glorify Him in it.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18 — Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• 1 Timothy 4:4 — For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving….
• Colossians 4:2-6 — Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving…. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
• Philippians 4:6 — …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• Philippians 2:14-15 — Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world….
• James 5:9 — Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
• 1 Peter 4:7-9 — The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 28 July 2024: Today, praise the LORD for your salvation and the relationship He has given you to enjoy right now and into eternity. In light of His love and perfect providence, love Him, obey Him, and manifest (glorify) Him through the fruitfulness of your joyful, passionate obedience.