So...I'm meditating on Psalm 34 this morning and some words in verse 1 ("I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.") virtually leap off the page at me.
"...at all times..." Really?
...at all times? No...seriously...
"...continually..."? ...as in never not? (I know...double-negative...but, just think about it for a second and go with it...)
I search the cross references to this verse. Surely they will shed some light on what this really means.
I turn to Ephesians 5:20 and it says, "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
...always? ...for everything?
Sweet Husband encourages me to not use such extreme words like "always" and "never". Of course, that's usually when we're in conflict and it seems like he "always" does this...or "never" does that.
But, this is God's Word. ...and he doesn't use his Word to manipulate us...like we use our words to manipulate.
Back to the cross references. There was one more.
I turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and read, "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
There's that "all" word again. ...and God goes even further, stating that this is his will for me.
And "giving thanks" is not all...vs. 18 is actually a continuation of vs. 17 where he says,"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing"
...again..."always" and "without ceasing" (another way of saying "continually"...that "never not" word).
So...if I'm "at all times" and "continually" and "for everything" and "in all circumstances" blessing the Lord, praising the Lord, giving thanks to the Lord, rejoicing and praying always...when do I get to whine and complain and vent and talk about ME and how I feel?
I mean...didn't David whine and vent and talk about his feelings on occasion? (can you say "rhetorical question"?) Of course. But, he whined, vented and talked about his feelings to the Lord. I want to whine, complain, vent and talk about my feelings with other people. Big difference.
You see, whining, complaining, venting and talking about my feelings with other people might mean I'll get validated and affirmed...and hopefully, I'll get sympathy and consolation...giving me "permission" to continue in my self-wallowing. (unless they are faithful friends who take the opportunity to care for my soul and correct me)
To take all of it to the Lord means a sure reminder from the Holy Spirit, if I'm really humbled before him, that whatever I'm walking through is a good gift from my loving Heavenly Father, suited perfectly for me...for my sanctification and my good...for his glory and my joy. That though my heart feels heavy and I perceive my load as too much to bear...
"The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust - there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men." (Lamentations 3: 25-33)
Luke 9:23-24 says, "And he (Jesus) said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
This is when I feel the sharpness of the two edges of the sword that is God's Word. It cuts at my very core and exposes ugliness too heinous to be described.
Wouldn't it be so much more comfortable for Luke 9: 23 to read, "...let him INDULGE himself..."? I know it would be a whole lot easier to obey!
...and I'm sure it would've been a whole lot easier for Jesus to not have had to go to the cross. He was so pained thinking about what was ahead of him...all that taking up the cross would entail...especially the separation from his Father...that he pled with the Father to let the cup pass from him. He pled so intensely that he had blood seeping from his pores. (...have I ever implored the Father that earnestly? ...another subject for another post...)
Yet, "he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) "...Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus knew the pain he was facing...but he didn't ever complain or whine or vent to his disciples...he only pled to his Father (with perfect motives) and accepted the Father's will. He set his heart on the joy before him...glorifying the Father...defeating sin and death...providing redemption for me...becoming "the way of escape" from all temptation and besetting sins...taking on all my sin that I might be clothed in all his righteousness.
...and isn't Christ to be my example? God is, after all, conforming me to the image of his Son. (Romans 8:29)
...and though it won't be until "that day" that I will really be "like him", God gives me grace and the ministry of the Holy Spirit that I might "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called" (Ephesians 4:1) until "that day".
...and one way he calls me to walk is with thankfulness to the LORD "at all times", "continually" praising him, giving thanks to him "for everything" and "in all circumstances"..."for it is God who works in [me], both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
"Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!" (Psalm 34:3)
No comments:
Post a Comment