The Lord Will Perfect Us

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thing hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” — Psalm 138:7-8

"David Playing the Harp" - Jan de Bray, Public Domain Image

Here we have an Old Testament appeal to eternal security. That both our life and our sanctification are the sovereign work of the Lord and we can rest in his faithfulness when the race seems too impossible for us. If our sanctification were up to us, we would fail. But God's grace is always ready to compensate for our frailty.

Matthew Henry’s commentary on Psalm 138:8 reads, “Whatever good work God has begun for His people He will perform it. Every good man is most concerned about his duty to God and his happiness in God, that the former may be faithfully done and the latter effectually secured; if indeed these are the things that our hearts are most upon, there is a good work begun in us, and He that has begun it will perfect it, Phil. 1:6.”

Photo by Anders Ipsen via Unsplash

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” -Philippians 1:6

Amen!

Who Can Tell if God Will Turn and Repent?

Here is what “national salvation” looks like according to the Bible:

[7]] And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: [8] But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. [9] Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

[10] And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” Jonah 3

This is what America needs – true repentance and a turn away from the sin and wickedness that we have normalized in our society. Ninevah avoids becoming the next Sodom and Gomorroah (for a time) by hearing the sober words of Jonah. But what do our pastors tell us? That God has a wonderful plan for our lives, that Jesus is a long-haired hippy who wants to have a relationship with US, and that we should live our best “purpose-driven life” NOW.

"Jonah Praying Before the Walls of Ninevah" - Rembrandt, Public Domain Image

Everyone knows John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

But what about John 3:18? “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

We need to be sober-minded about who God is. “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Nahum 1:7. Amen.

But it’s the immediate next verse that will get people donning the sackcloth:

“But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.” Nahum 1:8

"Nahum" - James Tissot, Public Domain Image

America needs some tough love. We have an opportunity to repent of our sins, pray for revival, intercede before God for the sins of our neighbors and country, and vote for principled candidates in the coming primaries and midterms. Who knows if God will turn away his wrath? If not, expect darkness to pursue us from now until America is utterly consumed.

Selah.

Fear Not Little Flock

Photo by Sam Carter via Unsplash

“[23] The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. [24] Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? [25] And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? [26] If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? [27] Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not: and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? [29] And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. [30] For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. [31] But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not , little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”— Luke 12

Amen!