2020-2021 WOW! Unreal!
Politics – finances – natural disasters – civil unrest – death toll – COVID – closures – shortages – quarantine – executive orders – riots
One glance at a new paper and you can easily see the desperate state our world is in
Our homes are being invaded with everything from the influx of violence in our television shows along with a constant barrage of sexual innuendos
Work places no longer recognize Sabbath or corporate worship as a life’s necessity instead many are forced to choose between a paycheck or a Sabbath connection with your church family
Texting and facebooking are quickly replacing face to face conversations
Every person in this room has been touched by grief within this last year alone…..
From the moment I was invited to give this years message I was in prayer asking God for his guidance… How Lord? What do you want me to share? I have been in constant prayer, reading various passages, even other sermons on the subject
And over and over again I felt such conviction …
REMIND THEM
I am a wreck, my words fail me, my short comings shackle me in my finite body how can I ever begin to “REMIND THEM” how do I help people to see a God who is infinitely more than I can ever comprehend ……………. REMIND THEM
READ PSALM 103: 1 – 22
Let look a little deeper
V2 “Let all that I am praise you…… May I never forget the good things he does for me”
Then the psalmist goes on to remind us all the “good things” the father has done for us…
V3 “He forgives all my sin……
“…. Heals all my diseases:
this is an eternal statement referencing “all my sin” meaning past present, and future – NOT as a license to sin but a reminder that his forgiveness covers ALL my sin
“Heals all my disease” again this is an eternal statement although he heals often now …. When he doesn’t we can trust that eternally we will be healed and provide with new bodies *of course there is a deeper explanation regarding this verse but that would be for another sermon
V4 “redeems me from death… crowns me with love & mercy”
When this life is complete for me it is NOT the end of my story God REDEEMS me from death what a powerful promise I can not even begin to imagine what it would be like to face death without such a promise.
V5 “fills my life with good things”
The implications of this verse are not intended to be applied as a reference to material wealth ….
Romans 8: 28
“we know that God causes everything to work together for the
good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose”
we may not understand or fully see why God does all the things he does but we can take comfort in the fact that God is always working for our spiritual benefit
V6”he gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly”
How much time is wasted in the pursuit of personal justice….
“I didn’t deserve to be treated that way”
“you deserve better”
“that’s not fair”
facebook posts, lawyer fees even news paper articles are filled with reports of the injustice
the Lord gives righteousness and justice
I don’t need to worry about the “how” or “when” I can simply rest in the peace I find in the truth of WHO God is…. HE is the bringer of righteousness and justice
V8 “the Lord is: compassionate – merciful show to get angry and filled with unfailing love”
I feel like this verse is here because we need a fresh dose of reality….
As you sit down tomorrow to eat your meal take a few moments to close you eyes and soak this in….
He is not far off
He is compassionate – he cares of you
He is merciful – he is quick to extend forgiveness
Slow to get angry – so very patient with us
And FILLED with and unfailing love for you
V9 “he will not constantly accuse us nor remain angry forever”
Again we are reminded … he forgives ALL my sins
He doesn’t hold on to it just to throw it back in my face he is not bitter over it … I am forgiven – it is finished!
V10 “he does not punish us for all our sins he does not deal harshly with us as we deserve”
Our neighbors might, our spouse and family might, our boss might
BUT….GOD does not ~ we deserve his wrath but because of his unfailing love and willingness to forgive…
He does not punish us as we deserve
And V12 reminds us of this “he removed our sin as far from us as the east is from the west”
V14 – 16 we are reminded of our finite position in this life
We are weak ~ like dust, grass, wild flowers ~ the wind blows and we are gone as if we never were
And V17 “but the Lord remains forever”
We see the glaring contrast… God has no beginning and no end God is FOREVER
He is so majestic that:
V19 “the heaves are his throne”
V20 “the angels carry out his marching orders and listen for his commands
V22 “everything created is called to praise him”
NOTHING is worthy of his praise ….
And yet:
Psalm 149: 4
“For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory”
the GOD who …. Created ALL things The GOD who pushed past the boundaries of heaven and earth to be with us the GOD who conquered sin and death …… who forgives, heals, redeems who is the bringer of righteousness and justice….
Delights in you!
And crowns you with victory
To be clear:
Politics – Covid – finances – family – and all the frustrations that go with it… are only a small part of the story
Romans 8: 37
No despite all these things overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us
So tomorrow and every day after when you sit for a meal – when you lay down to rest – when you wake – when you watch the news – when you hold your babies … in your comings and goings
Pause asking God to fill your heart with Thanksgiving knowing this is not an annual event but a life long journey to stand in the face of all this world might toss your directions and KNOW that:
“All glory to God who is able through his mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever Amen”
Ephesians 3: 20-21
In all things ~ in all days let us be always found living lives of gratitude and thanksgiving
