Telling our troubles to God

"I TELL MY TROUBLE BEFORE HIM." PSALM 142:2

David was a spiritual man. He enjoyed great intimacy with God. He didn't need to be driven off into a cave (as he was here) before he told God what was bothering him. But maybe this Psalm was written to help those of us who nearly do.

Christian, have you forgotten that the Lord wants to hear your troubles? Yes, yours. He desires for you to open up to him. When you don't, you act as if he didn't really care about you. And as the old theologian John Owen said, "The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the Father, the greatest unkindness you can do to him is not to believe that he loves you."

If we really believed God's love for sinners in Christ, we would run into his arms and sob on his strong shoulders and tell him how we feel more often. Instead, we go to other people first; or worse, we take to social media! No, tell your troubles to your Father who loves you and he will see to all of them.

The God who passes through

"THERE SHALL BE WAILING, FOR I WILL PASS THROUGH YOUR MIDST," SAYS THE LORD. AMOS 5:17

Just as he passed through Egypt and struck down the firstborn of every house without the blood on the door posts, the fierce judgment of God would pass through the midst of sinners once again.

Israel had become a spiritual Egypt (Revelation 11:8). No matter how many outward Passovers they observed, they would face God's wrath for their many sins if they didn't repent and apply the blood of the greater Lamb to their souls. The LORD would pass through their midst in fury for their godless deeds.

When the disaster struck, God wanted them to know, "That was me." He is the living God with whom we all must deal. And when it comes to God's dealings with sinners, there is an eternal chasm between those words: pass over or pass through. If he passes over our sins we are safe. But if he passes through, we are ruined.

PRAISE GOD FOR THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!

Welcoming rebukes

"LET A RIGHTEOUS MAN STRIKE ME—IT IS A KINDNESS; LET HIM REBUKE ME—IT IS OIL FOR MY HEAD; LET MY HEAD NOT REFUSE IT." PSALM 141:5

David loved the community of believers. When he was stranded in the wilderness he treasured sweet memories of corporate worship and longed to be with God's people again (Psalm 42:4).

Here David celebrates what the New Testament calls "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15), a crucial ingredient in real spiritual maturity. He saw the dangers of spiritual isolation, and he saw the safety and joy of righteous correction.

Rebuke hurts, no mistake about it. David knew that, and stirred up his own soul to see it for what it really is: kindness and refreshment.

Do you long for the rebukes of the righteous people in your life? Do you know how much you need them? Do you invite them and embrace them when they come your way? Or do you hate godly correction?

This is just another reason to be an active member of a solid local church where believers speak the truth to one another in love, and where those same believers celebrate the truth when it comes their way, even when it hurts.

GODLY CORRECTION IS, AFTER ALL, PROOF THAT GOD LOVES US (HEBREWS 12:6).

Learn more about small groups at Redeeming Cross. 

God of the impossible

"YOU SHALL...PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO HAS DEALT WONDROUSLY WITH YOU." JOEL 2:26

OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF WONDERS - THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE.

In Joel's day, God's people had sunken so low into sin that no one thought there was any hope left for them. But when judgment was at their very doorstep, the God of wonderful mercy said, "Yet even now, return to me" (Joel 2:12).

He is the God of impossible mercy. If you've fallen into sin as a Christian, God's words to you are the same: "Yet even now, return to me." If you are in a lost condition, even on the very edge of eternal judgment, his words to you are the very same: "Yet even now return to me."

What will you do for eternity? If you're a Christian, you will praise the God of wondrous dealings for all eternity. You were a lost, hopeless rebel, without God in the world, sunken under a weight of eternal guilt, and the God of wonders singled you out for mercy. He washed you in the blood of his Son and made you his heir. You were an impossible case - no one could take away your guilt, no one could change you, least of all yourself. But God did.

START ETERNITY EARLY BY REFLECTING ON GOD'S WONDROUS DEALINGS WITH YOU TODAY.

Blog Post Title One

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.