Joy Killer #1: Complaining
Monday, July 26, 2021
How many have ever had joy, maybe you found joy in Christ and what he's doing in your life, and somebody or something came along, and killed your joy. It was a joy killer.
Monday, July 26, 2021
Philippians 2:14-15
I get this because Paul gives us that admonition in Philippians 2:14-15. Philippians is Paul's letter of joy. He wrote it from prison, the last place you'd expect somebody to have joy, but joy is not happiness. You can be unhappy in prison and still filled with joy like Paul was. So while he's in prison, still filled with joy, he says this to the Philippians, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault and a crooked and depraved generation,' in which you shine like stars in the universe."
First, he says "Do everything without complaining or arguing." What's arguing? It can be a form of complaining sometimes. "I want this, I want that. I want this. I want that." James says it's competing battle of wills. Paul goes on and says if you do everything without complaining and arguing, then what happens is you shine like stars, you're filled with joy. If you don't, then you are like the crooked and depraved generation around us. How many know the crooked and depraved generation around us, which describes our generation, they're always complaining. They say, "I'm offended. I'm offended that you said that. I'm offended that you did that. I'm offended." Sometimes I just want to say "I'm offended that you're offended." Or people say, "My rights have been trampled." And unfortunately there's a lot of truth to that, but but sometimes their rights are actually their selfish needs. People are always complaining about something. And I'm telling you, I have never seen somebody that complains a lot filled with joy. Have you?
The problem is sometimes we look in the mirror and we find somebody who's doing a lot of complaining. Stop complaining. Accept it. Voice your concern, say something's wrong, challenge it, wish it were better, but don't camp out in complaining land. It'll rob your joy. Do less complaining and more contemplating. What does God want to do in your situation? Then, you will not be like the crooked and depraved generation around us, but you'll be, as Paul says, like shining stars. I think of that song by Earth Wind and Fire, "Got to be a shining star." Paul says, be a shining star. What does that mean? When you're a shining star you're filled with joy. So you get the choice: complain or joy? It's like two rabbits. You can't chase two rabbits at once. Get rid of complaining and chase down joy. Father, forgive us for being complainers. I am one who at times struggles with complaining. Help me to choose joy over complaining. Help people listening to choose joy over complaining, and we'll find more joy as a result. We ask you this in Jesus' name. Amen.
By Pastor Vince DiPaola
Joy in Others' Success
Friday, July 23, 2021
Today, I want to talk to you about how you could find joy in another person's success.
Friday, July 23, 2021
Philippians 1:23-26
Over the past two Lifte Lifters, we've been focusing on the subject of joy and finding reasons for joy from the book of Philippians. Today, I want to talk to you about a third reason for joy. So far, we talked about how we can find joy because God is at work within us. We also talked about how we can find joy no matter what, because there is a difference between joy and happiness. Today, I want to talk to you about how you could find joy in another person's success. What I have found is that sometimes I get more joyful when I see somebody else succeed, someone that I've helped, than even in my own success. For instance, I love seeing my kids find biblical success. Love it. It makes me as happy - or happier - than if I had success. I kind of share in their success because I'm their dad. I love when my grandson find success. Love when my wife find success. I love when people in our church find success after we help them and we build into them. It's a partnership. There is a joy in helping someone else succeed.
Sometimes we live in such a self-absorbed, narcissistic world that we forget life is not about ourselves alone. It's about others, too. I mean, you wouldn't want to climb Mount Everest and accomplish such an amazing achievement and be there alone, would you? No, you want to be there with a bunch of friends and say "we did it!" Then, you're as happy for them as you are for yourself, because you did it together. That's what life's about - building into others, so that their success brings you joy. I get that from the book of Philippians 1:23-26. Philippians is the Apostle Paul's letter of joy that he wrote from prison in Rome. Paul says, "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."
What Paul said is that he would like to die and be with the Lord, but he does not mean commit suicide. More so, he would like to just give in to all the people that wanted to kill him because he's a Christian. But he says he can't do that because he has work to do here, so it's necessary that he remains here with the Philippians. What's really clear is that somehow Paul knew that he had a purpose in life to help the Philippians grow stronger in their faith, and help them reach their Philippian friends for Christ. Paul goes on to basically say, "My joy comes from being with you, and your joy comes from you being with me." It's like a partnership. In other words, they found joy in each other's successes. The Philippians found joy in learning from Paul and helping him be a successful apostle, and Paul found joy in building them to help them grow as more devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
We find joy in that type of thing. It's like when I see my kids, my grandkids, my wife, people at our church growing, man, I find joy when I see that. I saw someone at BJs. The other day. He used to go to our church moved to Florida and he said, "Hey Vince, I'm going to get baptized at my church in Florida next month." I say, "That is so great!" We talked and I remember how after one service, before he became a Christian, he started crying. He said, "Man, what you said today spoke to me. It gave me such joy," and now he's getting baptized. I told him to send me a picture of his baptism.
Are you getting excited about other people? Are you finding joy and building into others? I'm telling you, you will find joy in reaching goals in your own life, but maybe one of those goals is to help somebody else. Help somebody who doesn't have a father or mother, help a neighbor, help a family member succeed, especially spiritually. And guess what? They're going to have joy, and you seeing their joy and their success will inspire your joy. Joy comes from other people's success, especially their spiritual success. So I encourage you to find somebody to build into. Watch God work, and it will fill you with joy. Father, help us all to get off the backs of other people and get on their team. Help us to know who we're supposed to support and love. And when we see great results, help us to find another source of joy from you in that. So whoever is struggling with joy, help them to stop thinking about their lack of joy and start thinking about helping somebody else find joy, and I know you'll help them find it themselves. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
By Pastor Vince DiPaola
Joy No Matter What
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
I want you to know that you can be joyful no matter what. Do you believe that?
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Philippians 1:12-14, 18
I believe this because the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians, but he wrote it from a Roman prison around 60 AD. I find it ironic becuase if I was in prison, the last thing I would do is write an epistle and have it be centered on joy. I would have it be centered on suffering for the Lord, suffering for Jesus, but the Apostle Paul was contagiously, uncontainabley joyful. I get that from Philippians 1:12-14, 18. Look at what he says. Writing to the Christians at Philippi about his imprisonment, Paul says, "Now, I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly."
Paul didn't focus on circumstances outside of him. He focused on the gospel, which was what God wanted him to do, the work he wanted him to do inside. The happy part wasn't there. The joy part was. Then he goes on to talk about the effects of his imprisonment on others. He says, look, I don't like being in chains for Christ. I don't like being in prison. I'm not happy about it. But I'm joyful about it because now everybody knows why I'm in prison, why I'm in chains. I'm in chains for Christ. And he says, that's exciting. Look at verse 14, "Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly." In other words, because Paul was willing to suffer for Christ, a couple things happened. Number one, people who were not yet Christians were seeing Paul in chains for his faith in Christ, which must have been a bold witness to these people. They realized that he loves Jesus so much he's willing to go to prison for him. And I'm sure it helped Paul have an opportunity to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus, with others. Then he says that his imprisonment also encourages those who are already convinced to share their faith more. That's why he says in verse 18b, "Because of this, I rejoice."
He goes on to say that no matter what your motives are in sharing the gospel, at least it's getting out there. And so Paul said, look, because of what's happening to me outside, I don't have happiness. But inside what's happening to me is, because the gospel is getting out to more people and the people who are already Christians are helping get it out even further, in that I rejoice. So here's what I want to say: You can be joyful no matter what because God has given you unconditional Joy. He hasn't given you unconditional happiness. He doesn't promise happiness, but he does promise joy. Are you ready for that? For joy no matter what? I love being joyful and happy. That's a double win. But you know what, even if I'm not happy, I can go and I can be at peace with myself saying, I have to find the joy that the Lord has given me. He has given you joy. Have you gotten down on yourself? Have you gotten down on life? Are you unhappy? Stop trying to be happy. Let God take care of that. Do what you can do, because you can control joy. Joy is a choice because God has already given you that joy. You just have to turn yourself over to that joy.
Let's pray. Father, I don't know what people are going through. I don't know what wrestlings they might have. I don't know what threats to their joy are coming their way. I pray that you'll help them stop the losing battle to always be happy, but instead put that energy to fill their life with the joy which is always available in you, in their heart, through faith in Jesus. Encourage them now, fill them with joy, indescribable and incomprehensible. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
By Pastor Vince DiPaola
Joy Because God Is At Work In You
Monday, July 19, 2021
When I know God is at work in me, even if some of the edges that are rough need some extra work and smoothing, I can have joy.
Monday, July 19, 2021
Philippians 1:3-6
We all need a little pick me up when it comes to joy. Joy is something that is always available from God, but isn't always something that we engage in our life. So I'm going to spend the next few life lifters writing about joy. This week I want to talk to you about some reasons for joy. I will use the book of Philippians, kind of march through it a little bit, and give you some reasons to have joy. The first reason you can have joy in your life - that uncontainable, amazing feeling of inner satisfaction, peace, contentment, and robust energy that comes from God - the first reason you can have that joy no matter what is because God is at work in you.
When I know God is at work in me, even if some of the edges that are rough need some extra work and smoothing, I can have joy. Even if I have to go to the bandsaw and get some extra stuff cut off, or get stained and varnish, whatever it is, I know God is at work within me. It may not be pleasant, may not be easy, like how varnish stinks and sanding hurts, but it makes us better, and that's what our life is like. I find joy in that, and so did the Apostle Paul. In the book of Philippians, the book of joy, we're going to draw all these principles out for the next few life lifters. Today we will read Philippians 1:3-6. Writing to the Christians at Philippi, Paul said, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
So, Paul says he's always praying with joy. Why? Because of the partnership that he has seen in the Philippians, because of the progress he's seen in their faith. This fills him with joy. Then, not only has there been progress in their faith, there's guaranteed to be future progress. Once God gets a hold of a person's life, once you become a Christian, God is doing a work that is unstoppable. He will not stop until he is finished. This is the great promise from verse six. Paul says, "I'm confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." He who began a good work in you - what's that? It's God's work in you the moment you became a Christian, if in fact you have. It's the work he began when he forgave you of your sins, when you put your faith in Jesus Christ alone. Paul says God "will carry it on to completion." It's not just a work he does when you become a Christian, it's work he does all the way until the day of Christ Jesus. What is the day of Christ Jesus? It's one of two things. It's basically when your life on Earth ends, and that happens one of two ways. Either you die, which is how it's been for 2000 years, or the Lord comes back for you at the Rapture and takes you to heaven. Whatever the day of Christ Jesus is for you, God says he'll keep doing the work.
By Pastor Vince DiPaola
Cancelled Charges
Friday, July 16, 2021
When you were without Christ Jesus, you were separated from God, dead to him because of your sins. But what God did for those of you who have come to see that Christ is the way back to God, is God made you alive with Christ.
Friday, July 16, 2021
Colossians 2:13-15
Welcome back for another Life Lifter! Our scripture that will give us a lift today is from Colossians 2:13-15. Here's how it reads, "God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
The picture here is that you were dead in your sins. When you were without Christ Jesus, you were separated from God, dead to him because of your sins. But what God did for those of you who have come to see that Christ is the way back to God, is God made you alive with Christ. You've gone from death to life in Christ. God forgave you all your sins. He forgave the ones that you just cringe at when you think about them, those things that you wish you could do over, the things where you go, "Oh, if only I could have done it over, I would have, or I could have, or I should have..." He has forgiven you all your sins. He canceled the charge of legal indebtedness. In other words, when you sin the wages of that sin was death, but God canceled that bill for you. That bill that stood against you, that bill that condemned you, that legal document that said because of your sin you deserve death, he canceled that. He took it away. When Christ died on the cross that document of legal indebtedness was cancelled, it was nailed to the cross with Christ.
Not only that, but he has disarmed Satan and all his evil hordes. They can no longer accuse you. In fact, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. This is what God has done for you in Christ Jesus. You've been made alive with him, your sins have been forgiven, your sins have been canceled, which means obliterated or destroyed. The charges against you have been taken away, he has disarmed all of those who would accuse, making a public spectacle of them. This means that in Christ Jesus you are free from all of those sins and from everything that could take you out of the loving embrace of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, who loves you. Friends, that should give you a lift for the day, and I hope and pray that it does.
By Pastor Brian Rathbun
Without Blemish, Free from Accusation
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
In this life, because of our sin and our evil behavior, we have actually become enemies of God. And what is so encouraging and lifting about this passage is all of the verbs that describe what it is that God has done for us in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Colossians 1:21-23
Welcome back for another Life Lifter. I hope that this section of scripture from Colossians 1:21-23 will be a lift for your day. It reads like this, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established, and firm..."
What's clear about this is that we start estranged from God. In this life, because of our sin and our evil behavior, we have actually become enemies of his. And what is so encouraging and lifting about this passage is all of the verbs that describe what it is that God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Now in Christ, and because of his physical body and his death for us on the cross, we have been reconciled to God, the enmity is no longer there. We have been reconciled to him. In Christ and because of his physical body, through death, we have been presented holy in the sight of God. We were presented holy because he has made us holy in His sight. We are pure, we are clean, we are the holiness of God in Christ Jesus. In Christ, and because of his death, we are without blemish. There's no stain of sin on us. We are free from accusation. The evil one and all his hordes cannot accuse us, and if we love Christ we don't get to accuse ourselves either.
All of these things are true, not because we act properly all the time, not because we don't commit sins. These things are true because this is what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. We are reconciled to God, we are holy in His sight, we are without blemish. We are free from accusation because we are in Christ Jesus. I don't know about you, but I know this: when I think of that and I believe the truth that all of these things are true of me because I'm in Christ, that gives me the lift that I need to go into this day. I am thankful to be God's child, thankful for Jesus Christ, and thankful for what he's done for me.
By Pastor Brian Rathbun
Washed, Sanctified, Justified
Monday, July 12, 2021
Paul painted the blackest picture he could of who they were and what they were like. But then he tells them this...
Monday, July 12, 2021
1 Corinthians 6:11
Our Life Lifter today comes from 1 Corinthians 6:11. The Apostle Paul had told the people there in Corinth that some of them were sexually immoral, some of them were thieves, they were greedy. Some of them were slanderers, swindlers, and drunkards. He painted the blackest picture he could of who they were and what they were like. But then he tells them this, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
What he was telling them was that even though they were dirty with all of this sin, they had been washed by God. I remember a commercial some years ago for a famous detergent. The wife in the picture was constantly trying to clean her husband's shirt. His neckline was constantly dirty, and she was trying to wash it out, scrub it out, clean it out. And I remember a comedian on television saying to the wife, "Why are you scrubbing that shirt? Tell that filthy man to clean his neck!" Well, when God cleans something, or when you are cleaned and washed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, how many of you know that that washing is clean, and pure, and without spot? Some of you who used to be these evil people have been washed clean by Christ Jesus. All of us who have put our faith in Christ Jesus for our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins have been washed clean by Christ, and through the spirit of our God. We have been sanctified, which means we've been made holy. That's a difficult one to believe because typically we don't think of ourselves as being holy. But what has happened is when we came to Christ Jesus, that old life, and all of those things that made us up and defined who we were, those things are gone. We have now been made holy in Christ Jesus. And we have been justified. We have been declared not guilty, not simply because God declared us not guilty, but because he made us not guilty in Christ Jesus.
That is really good news. What the language of this particular text of Scripture says is that in Jesus Christ, and by his Holy Spirit we have been made all of these things right now, we have been washed, we have been sanctified, we have been justified in Christ Jesus. That means no matter what has happened to you, no matter how you have sinned in the past, even yesterday, or today, or even in the future, you've been washed, you've been sanctified and made holy. You've been justified because of your faith in Christ Jesus, and by his Holy Spirit. No matter how you think you failed, because you're in Christ, all of these good things are true of you. Therefore, when you look at your life now, and throughout this day, you can go throughout it rejoicing in Christ Jesus because of what he's done for you. And my hope for you today is that because you go rejoicing, because you realize what Christ has done for you, it will be that lift for your day.
By Pastor Brian Rathbun
He Knows All of Your Days
Friday, July 9, 2021
From the moment of conception, right through to birth, God knit us together in our mother's womb. Think about that.
Friday, July 9, 2021
Psalm 139:13-18
In verse 13, David writes this about God, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." The God of the universe, the one who knows you so well, so intimately, he is the one that created you. He created you bit by bit, cell by cell. From the moment of conception, right through to birth, he knit us together in our mother's womb. Think about that. When you knit something, it is not a fast process. It requires concentration, it requires specific moves that are calculated to have a certain outcome. God knit you together very patiently in your mother's womb. He knows you that intimately, stitch by stitch. So, when you consider how you're made, when you think about the complexity of your body, the way it works, knowing that that God intimately spent time with us, putting us together, how could you not but worship Him? It is just such an incredible thought to me. When I think about the sanctity of life, this passage for me speaks so much about how important life is, and that God has purpose and a calling on our lives, as we'll see in a moment.
Continuing in verse 15, "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." See, God knew you before you were born. While you were being made, he was right there in the womb with you. You were known by God before a single day of your life came to be. Life doesn't begin at birth, life begins at conception. You were known by God every single moment of your life throughout your life. They were written in his book. He is writing the story of your life.
Continuing in verse 17, "How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand - when I awake, I am still with you." When you think about the way that God loves you, when you think about the depth of His love and the magnitude of His love, it is truly awesome. It's like counting grains of sand. It's impossible. If you've ever gone to the beach and tried to count grains of sand, you know it is impossible. That's how many thoughts God has about you. The way God thinks about you is unmatched by anybody else. It is precious, it is priceless, and it is infinite. Infinite are the thoughts of God towards you.
Let's pray. Father, thank you. Thank you that you have known us. You knew all the days that were to be ordained for us before one of them came to be. You knit us together, stitch by stitch, in our mother's womb. And you continue to desire to know us, to be with us, to go before us, and to be a part of our lives. We thank you for that. Father, thank you for the thoughts of love that you have towards us, and thank you that you, the God of the universe, would care enough to work in our lives. Father, that is an encouraging thought. It is a sobering thought. We love you for that, we worship you, and we give you thanks. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. Hey everyone, until next time, don't just have a great day, but go and make a great day.
By Pastor Frank De Luccio
He Knows Every Move You Make
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
There is not a single place on Earth that you can go without God being present.
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Psalm 139:7-12
Today, we are continuing to look at Psalm 139. As we said on July 5, Psalm 139 was written by King David of Israel. We will go through verses 7 to 14 verse by verse. Starting in verses 7-8, David writes this about God, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." You see, there is not a single place on Earth that you can go without God being present, there is not a single place above the earth or below the earth that you can go without God being present. God has a characteristic known as omnipresence, which is a big word that means his whole being is fully present everywhere at the same time. It's not that a part of God is over here, and another part is over here. No, he is fully present everywhere at the same time. That is such a comforting thought for me and I'm encouraged by that, because I can never be without the presence of God in my life. That's what David is saying. He asks, "Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" The answer is "Nowhere."
In verse nine, David continues, "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." No matter where you go, no matter how early in the day it is, or how late in the evening, no matter how close you are, or how far (even to the furthest point out in the sea), God will always be with you, to guide you and protect you. His hand his right hand, which is the hand of his favor, will be upon you. He will hold you fast, he will not delay.
David continues in verse 11. He says, 'If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.' You see, God even sees you in the darkness. Darkness is dark to us humans, but is not dark to God. It's almost like he has night goggles on. When it's dark to us, we may not be able to see anything around us, but God sees you. He sees you. His light is upon you, and he will see you and will let his light shine upon you, even though you can't necessarily see it. He has his light on you. Again, that is a comforting thought for me to know that every move that you make, every move that I make, God knows exactly where we are. It's not in a weird way, though. Remember that Police song from the 80s, "Every Breath You Take"? It was sort of like someone following you, almost like in a creeper sense. But no, David is talking about God's loving hand there to guide you and lead you no matter where you go. You see, no place is unfamiliar to God. He has loving eyes looking on you for your best interest, to guide you and lead you through every moment of life. I hope you find encouragement in that today.
Let's pray knowing that God knows every move we make. Father, we thank you because you know exactly where we are at all times. We can never escape your loving presence. May that give us encouragement today, may it give us courage when we're scared to face the things that are ahead of us in our day. May we take encouragement knowing you're right there with us, right by our side, going through this with you, with your hand upon us. Thank you Father for this, in Jesus' name. Amen. Remember, don't just have a great day, go and make a great day.
By Pastor Frank De Luccio
He knows Everything You Do
Monday, July 5, 2021
Think about that, for a moment: The Creator of the universe, the Giver of all life has a desire to know you firsthand. How can he possibly do this?
Monday, July 5, 2021
Psalm 139:1-6
This week, I want to talk to you about Psalm 139, one of my favorite Psalms. It was written by King David, and today we're going to take a look at the first six verses of Psalm 139. It says, "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."
Let's break it down one or two verses at a time. Starting in verse one, "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me." There's something comfortable right there. In that very first verse when David talks about being known by God, that's comforting, because it's comforting to be known by someone. To be known by people who know you and love you. And David says that the Lord has searched him and knows him. Think about that, for a moment: The Creator of the universe, the Giver of all life has a desire to know you firsthand. How can he possibly do this? How does God know you inside and out? It's because God is omniscient. That's a big word that basically means he is all-knowing. God is omniscient. He knows everything about you and me. He knows everything about everything. The psalmist knew this about God.
And he continues in verses two and three, when he writes, "You know when I sit, and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out, and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." See, God knows when you do things, he knows not only what you do, he knows when you do them, and he knows your thoughts. He knows where you are going, where you're coming from. You are never out of God's sight. You can try all you want, but you will never be able to be out of God's sight, because his loving eye is always on you, like a parent watching their child. I remember when I was a young dad, and I would take my kids to the playground when they were younger. They would try and hide behind the slide or one of the items on the playground, and then they would peek around the corner to see if I was still watching them. And that's how it is with God. We could try all we want to escape from God, but his eye is always on us, but not in a weird Big Brother kind of way, but in a loving way, in a caring way, because he desires to know us.
David continues. In verse four, he says, "Before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it completely." God knows what we're going to say. And he knows the thoughts that go into what we're about to say. He knows it completely and perfectly. He knows our motives. He knows the thoughts behind the words that we're about to speak. Verse five, "You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me." He goes ahead of you, looking out for you, looking out for pitfalls. He's behind you, guarding you, watching you. His loving hand is upon you. When he uses that word hem, think about the hem in your pants. It's the idea that God is both in front of you and behind you, hemming you in, covering you on both sides, from front and back at all times.
Verse six, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." Not only could you never fully comprehend such knowledge that God has, but it's too profound for us to handle. But here's the thing. It's true, God is madly in love with you. He wants to be a part of your life, every moment of your life every day, and not just in the good times, not just in the bad times. He wants to be in your life during the ugly and during the triumphant times. Why? Because he loves you.
Let's pray. Father, thank you for this Psalm that David wrote for us to help us to understand how you know everything about us, and you desire to know everything about us because you love us deeply and profoundly. We thank you for that encouraging thought and the fact that you're always with us, going before us and behind us, knowing everything about us. May we take comfort in that today, knowing that we are so deeply loved. Thank you, Father. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Hey, I hope you guys found encouragement in this today. Don't forget: don't just have a great day, but go and make a great day.
By Pastor Frank De Luccio
Topics
- 1 Corinthians
- 1 Thessalonians
- Anxiety
- Apologetics
- Blessed
- Broken World
- Chaos
- Community
- Confidence
- Conflict
- Contentment
- Courage
- Dependence
- Devotion
- Encouragement
- End Times
- Evangelism
- Faith
- Faithfulness
- Family
- Favoritism
- Fear
- Focus
- Forgiven
- Forgiveness
- Future
- Genesis
- Gentleness
- Gifts
- God
- Goodness
- Grace
- Gratitude
- Growth
- Heaven
- Holy Spirit
- Hope
- Humility
- Identity
- Included
- Integrity
- Isolated
- Isolation
- James
- Jesus
- Joy
- Judgement
- Kindness
- Limits
- Lonely
- Love
- Matthew
- Mercy
- Mindset
- Patience
- Peace
- Plan
- Prayer
- Pride
- Problems
- Proverbs
- Psalm
- Purpose
- Rapture
- Redemption
- Relationships
- Rest
- Salvation
- Secure
- Self Control
- Serving
- Sin
- Sorrow
- Spiritual Gifts
- Strength
- Strengths
- Suffering
- Temptation
- Thoughts
- Tired
- Trust
- Truth
- Value
- Victory
- Weakness
- Weary
- Wisdom
- Worship