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Safe-House

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 27
Focus: Psalm 27:4

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

I’ve often heard preachers say that they would rather be in church than the best hospital in the world. Not much of a choice, I suppose, but there is truth to that sentiment. The house of the Lord is truly the best place in the world to be—in good times and bad. It is truly our safe-house.

It is there in the house of God that we find shelter in the time of storm. David understood that. That’s why when calamity was all around him, he asked God for just one thing: To dwell in the Lord’s house, for there, “in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” (v. 5)

What is it about the house of the Lord that is so healing? Obviously, God’s presence is magnified in the place of worship and in the collective praise of his people. Likewise, the house of God is full of faithful friends—people who will encourage you, pray for your, help you in tangible ways, and if nothing else, put an arm around you and walk empathically with you through your valley of the shadow of death.

That is why the Scripture tells us that especially when the going gets tough, we should get going to church. Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

I’ve noticed that some people don’t do that. When things go bad, they go south. They pull away from the one place they ought to lean into—the church. Can I encourage you: Don’t be one of those types. Whether in good times or in bad—especially in bad times—lean into God and get vitally connected to his people. As the writer of Hebrews envisioned, in life’s difficulties, you cannot live without the encouragement of God that comes vis–à–vis the people of God in community.

Now I recognize in saying that there will be some who accuse me of legalistically tying church attendance to divine protection. I stand guilty on that one. The Word of God never separates personal relationship with God (with all its benefits) from participation in the community of God. God saves us as individuals to become a part of the family of God, and when we unlink from spiritual community, we become vulnerable—we have voluntarily checked out of the safe house.

My sincere prayer for you is that you will so fall in love with the house of the Lord that like the psalmist, you too can joyfully sing, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)

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“If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” (African Proverb)

 

Making Life Work: Build your life around the church. Make his house your house. I’m telling you, from my experience in life, that is the safest place on earth. Oh, and if you don’t believe me, just ask David!

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Hertz Donut

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 26
Focus: Psalm 26:1-3

“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me,and I walk continually in your truth.”

Have you ever been savagely and unfairly criticized? Sure you have! Hurts, don’t it?

To be human means to be born in criticism season with a big ol’ bull’s eye on your back. And the higher in leadership or influence you climb, the greater your visibility, the more you accomplish, the uglier and more devastating criticism becomes. And even worse, it is usually unjustified, indefensible, and anonymous. It’s just part of the territory.

Apparently David was facing some tough criticism, which was bothering him a great deal. And there wasn’t a whole lot he could do about it, except take it to God—which is always the best thing to do, by the way—and there lift his innocence and integrity before the only Critic who really counts.

You will notice in this psalm that David doesn’t claim perfection—which is a good thing, since he was far from it. If he were that deluded about the true condition of his life, inviting Divine scrutiny (“test me…try me…examine me…” v.2) would have been the worst thing to do in that moment. David was not under the illusion that he was perfect, but he could offer an innocent heart before the Lord; he could point to the integrity of his way and call upon God to vindicate him before his human critics.

To be anything and do anything means to invite criticism; it is just one of the harsh and unpleasant realities of life. So expect folks to criticize you, but like David, so live your life in innocence and integrity that nobody will give your critic much credence—especially God.

And the next time the critic is getting the best of you, remember that you answer to the One who knows your heart, and if you can lift a life of innocence and integrity before him, feel free to call out to him for his vindication.

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“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” (C.S. Lewis)

 

Making Life Work: Divine vindication is always the sweetest revenge you can dish out to your critic!

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A Divine Pass

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 25
Focus: Psalm 25:7

“Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.”

Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t remember the sins of your youth, the indiscretions of yesteryear? For that matter, aren’t you glad God doesn’t count your sins from yesterday against you? I sure am. And so was David.

David knew better than anyone the benefit of God’s gracious forgiveness. Perhaps no other person in history had his dirtiest, darkest laundry aired in public more than David did. Adulterer, conspirer, manipulator, cold-hearted you-know-what, murderer—that’s what David was! Yet David found in God something that you and I depend on for our very existence, something the non-believing world cannot grasp: Unconditional, unlimited, undeserving forgiveness.

Of all the Divine benefits David enjoyed in his life, forgiveness was right there at the top of the list. In that eloquent poetic listing of the blessings of belonging, Psalm 103, forgiveness was the very first one he mentioned:

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins…” (Psalm 103:1-3)

David went on in that psalm to describe the scope of God’s forgiveness in 9-14:

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

How does God forgive? According to those verses, in grace and mercy God forgives all of our sins. He doesn’t give us what we deserve—punishment—and he gives us what we don’t deserve—forgiveness. How does he forgive us? Completely—as far as the east is from the west he removes the stain and guilt of our sin. Last time I looked, that was a long way away! How does God forgive us? Out of the compassion of a father’s heart—like a father overflowing with love for a wayward child.

Perhaps that’s why David could write so many beautiful songs about the goodness of God. He, more than anyone, understood the benefits and blessings of being forgiven.

You can too!

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“Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, ‘I can clean that if you want.’ And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes our sin.” (Max Lucado)

 

Making Life Work: Perhaps it would do you some good to stop and consider for a moment the benefits and blessings of the gracious, undeserving, unlimited forgiveness that God has extended to you. Maybe, like David, as you realize how much you have been covered by his grace and mercy, you too, will exclaim, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”

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An Issue Of Godship

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 24
Focus: Psalm 24:1

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

God owns it all—the entire earth and all it contains, including me. He has the right of rulership over it all, including my life. He determines the ways this world must operate, both physical laws as well as the moral code, and even the way I must live my life. I cannot approach him on my terms; I must bend to his terms. God doesn’t yield to me, I am to yield to him.

Why? He owns it all. The earth is the Lords, and everything in it—and that includes me!

The problem is, from the beginning of man’s history, mankind has tried to reverse the immutable laws that the unchanging God has eternally established. We have done our dead level best to create God in our image. We have usurped his rightful place. We live as if we were God.

That is what ails the world, isn’t it? It’s an issue of godship: Who is going to rule. Every sin, every war, every crime, every calamity, every sad story of a broken home, everything that has ever gone wrong can be traced back to the wrong choice in the decision of godship. We have consistently put ourselves on the throne in place of the One who rightfully owns it all.

And of course, what is true of humankind in general is true of our lives individually. Our biggest issue, bar none, is this business of godship: Who will sit as master and commander of our moment-by-moment lives?

It will go against the grain of your instinctual pursuit of self-interest, self-preservation, self-advancement and self-gratification, but make God the master and commander of your life and all that you are pursing. At the end of the day, no one has ever regretted that—and you won’t either.

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“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling ‘darkness’ on the wall of his cell.” (C.S. Lewis)

 

Making Life Work: Truly wise people have settled that issue once and for all. They understand that God owns it all, and they are simply managing what he has given them in a way that will bring honor to the Owner. When we get that right in the big and small, seen and unseen moments of life, everything else will fall into place.

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That’s All I Want

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 23
Focus: Psalm 23:1

“The Lord is my shepherd.”

I am not sure where this came from, but I suspect you will be blessed by it as I was.

The Lord is my Shepherd—That’s Relationship!

I shall not want—That’s Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures—That’s Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters—That’s Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul—That’s Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness—That’s Guidance!

For His name sake—That’s Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death—That’s Testing!

I will fear no evil—That’s Protection!

For Thou art with me—That’s Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me—That’s Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies—That’s Hope!

Thou anointest my head with oil—That’s Consecration!

My cup runneth over—That’s Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—That’s Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord—That’s Security!

Forever—That’s Eternity!

It’s no mistake that Psalm 23 is sandwiched between two Messianic Psalms. Psalm 22 foretells the cross of Christ, and Psalm 24 speaks of a time when Messiah rules the earth in justice and righteousness. This strategic placement is fitting since it’s between Christ’s cross and Christ’s second coming, between our salvation and heaven, that we find ourselves facing life in all its rawness: The ups and downs, the victories and defeats, the joys and sorrows, the life and death that make up the human condition.

And even though this pastoral setting and shepherd-sheep analogy are foreign to our modern culture, isn’t there just something about this Shepherd’s Psalm that resonates in our core? That’s because we’ve discovered we’re pretty much like sheep—dense, directionless and defenseless—and we cannot do life without the Good Shepherd.

You need a shepherd—so do I. In Jesus, that’s what I’ve got. And that’s all I want!

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“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.” (Martin Luther)

 

Making Life Work: And that about covers it all. The Lord is my shepherd, and that’s all I want!

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The Beauty Of A Really Rotten Day

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 22
Focus: Psalm 22:1

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

David had some pretty bad days during his journey on earth—hiding from Saul in a cave, fleeing from his own son’s murderous plot, betrayed by people he had trusted—yet I have a feeling that the depth of despair you read in this psalm was a bit exaggerated.

We do that, too, sometimes. When we’re going through a painful experience, we often use hyperbolic language to describe our emotions: “I just want to die…I’ll never get over this…this pain is too great to bear…I am all alone.” It is a universally accepted practice to communicate the depth of our feelings by this sort of exaggeration.

But think about this: David was not just speaking on a personal level about having a really rotten day. He was also speaking prophetically of a time when Jesus, the Son of David would have a really rotten day hanging on a cross as God’s sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us, bearing the wrath of God on that old rugged cross. We will never in a billion years be able to understand the pain—not just the physical pain—but the spiritual pain of the sinless One taking on sin, and having the Father turn his back on the Son because his holy eyes could not gaze upon the sin his Son had become in that moment. That’s why Jesus fulfilled David’s prophetic utterance in Matthew 27:46 when he, too, cried out,

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

I am so grateful that my Lord endured that really bad day so I wouldn’t have to. So the next time you are having a really awful day, take a moment to rejoice that even though your day is not so great, you will never really know a really rotten eternity, thanks to Jesus.

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Making Life Work:Try doing that, and see if your really rotten day isn’t so bad after all.

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The Sweet Spot

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 21
Focus: Psalm 21:2

“You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips.”

There are some days, or entire seasons of life, when we find ourselves in the sweet spot of God’s will. Everything simply falls into place. The other shoe never drops. “Stuff” never happens. Bad things don’t come knocking at our door. Rather, blessing after blessing makes for one big fat fantastic experience.

We long for days like that, and sometimes, we get them. At other times, we must simply walk in faith and obedience—going without knowing, yet trusting in the goodness of a God who “doeth all things well” and has promised to give us the desires of our heart. There are some days that all we have to lean on is the sovereign nature of the unchanging God—knowing that because of his competence and care, this world is a perfectly safe place for us, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

In reality, much of David’s life was categorized by going without knowing—he navigated hundreds of dangerous and depleting episodes in his life with not much more than simple trust and gritty obedience. From this side of history, we tend to romanticize David’s life as one victory after another with only an occasional challenge. Not the case! David’s life was every bit as challenging as yours and mine—arguably more.

But the secret of David’s amazing life was simply that he put one footstep of faith in front of the other until he hit “pay-dirt”. Through defeats, dangers and disasters, he gritted out a long obedience in the same direction, and sooner or later, hallelujah, he hit the sweet spot.

Our hope is that this day will include that sweet spot of God’s will—pay-dirt! Who knows if that will be the case? The thing we do know, however, is that our duty today is to take one footstep of faith at a time and leave the “when,” “where” and “how” of the sweet spot up to God.

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“To bless God for mercies is the way to increase them; to bless Him for miseries is the way to remove them.” (William Dyer)

 

Making Life Work: Got miseries. Bless God for them.  Really!