Does the Lord hear me today?

Psa 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Psa 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Psa 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Psa 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Psa 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

 

Today I want to focus on verse three. I wonder what there is in my life that gives me assurance that God will hear me when I call unto Him. The verse says that the godly are set apart for Him and it implies that those are the ones He hears. I know that the 10 commandments are God's perfect law. So how did I stack up today against that perfect standard? I guess I could ask myself these questions and answer them honestly?

1. Was God first in my life all day today? Well, I watched a TV show this morning before I read my Bible and then I know I got upset for my own selfish reasons today. I asked for forgiveness each time, but it would have been nice to not have had to ask for forgiveness.
   
2. Did I worship someone religious icon today? Religious icon? Yeah, you know my personal forms of worship. My musical preference, dress style, or other general preference while thinking wrong of someone for not preferring that which I prefer. My icons of worship. Perhaps, I should just thank God for music to listen to, clothes to wear, and all the other things I enjoy and not worry about others.
   
3. Did I use the Lord's name in vain? As a curse word, no. Did I always call on Him in sincerity and with a depth of truth belonging to His person?
   
4. Did I honor my father and mother? They raised me to work hard and do my best in all that I perform. Did I honor them today?
   
5. Did I murder someone? You know that person on the road driving real slow that you want to hurt? I know just in my mind, but is it not the heart that defiles?
   
6. Did I commit adultery? Did I look with lust on a person of the opposite sex? It is natural, to sinful man. It is not an option for the Christian.
   
7. Did I steal? Not even someone's reputation with gossip?
   
8. Did I lie? Even a little white one?
   
9. Did I covet? Someone else's work schedule, car, bank account, or anything else you can think of?
   

So now that I have communed with my heart (yikes) and discovered how my day went will I stand in awe and sin no more? Here is the test of righteousness and godliness: make the answers to these questions less negative day by day and be repentant for the positive ones. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who gave us victory in some of these questions and beg for forgiveness for the others.

This is how David knew the Lord would hear him. This is how he knew he was set apart. You inventoried his days and made confession and praise to God a routine of his life. My challenge is to become like David.

Lord and Savior?

Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 

Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Phi 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Phi 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Phi 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Have ever noticed that Lord is used far more often in connection with Jesus than Savior? Even here in Philippians the one thing that everyone will do is profess Jesus as the Lord. Notice that not everyone will pronounce Jesus as Savior. This is because Jesus is Lord over everyone and Savior to those who believe.

Jesus is our Lord and the Lord of the world. One day He will sit upon His earthly throne in Jerusalem and every knee will bow before Him. Every mouth will pour forth the words of confession, Jesus is Lord. Everyone will acknowledge that He had every right to command their lives and to demand worship and obedience. Only those who practiced such things will be able to call Him Savior. A good servant is obedient to his master. Ever notice how often the Bible says that a bad servant is sent to the place of fire and a good servant will enter into rest? Ever notice how often the Bible says that if we love God and Jesus we will obey them? Ever notice how obedience is paid to a Lord? Ever notice how often the Bible says the righteous (obedient or striving to be obedient) are the ones who serve God and enter into rest?

This is why I believe a person who truly accepts Jesus as Savior will accept His Lordship. How can we continue any longer in sin after having been delivered? How can we say we are connected to the perfect vine and produce thorns of sin? Did Jesus not say in the Sermon on the Mount that the fig tree produces the fruit and a thorn bush produces thorns and neither can produce the other's product? Does this not mean that no matter how you dress a thorn bush up to look and grow like a fig tree in the end it is still a thorn bush? Surely one only need look close enough to see this. Is this why the Bible also says, "You shall know them by their fruit"?

Will we be perfect? No, but we will not have a lifestyle of disobedient sin. If Jesus is truly Lord we will endure hardships and perceived injustices, losses, financial reversals, and all manner of hardships, and still serve God. We will be like those of Hebrews 10 who joyful accepted the plundering of their lives and did not shrink back like the children of perdition. So I guess the only question that remains to be asked is this: is Jesus your Lord?

Playing with the paper

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Each year as Christmas nears I think back to my oldest daughter's first and second Christmas. Nearly fourteen years ago this young girl (nearly young woman) was a toddler beginning to experience life. The first year we had to teach her how to open a gift. We guided her through the process, but the second year she had it down. Year three she was on auto-pilot.

The first Christmas, we went all out. We bought every gift we could afford and then a few more for good measure. This was our baby and we wanted her life to be filled with all kinds of wonderful things and trinkets. When Christmas came she was so overwhelmed with all those bows. Bows, and paper, and ribbons, and bows! Here look at this neat toy we bought you. No, give me that bow and take this other neat gift. Year two was only slightly better.

Then year three came and she knew under all the glitz and glamour, there was something more important. So it is with church.

Far too often we are like my daughter as a toddler or one of the wives described in the passage above. We are caught up in the exterior wrappings of our faith and forget the God of our faith. We come to church for all kinds of reasons. We have a great Sunday school class that enjoys close fellowship. We have a passionate preacher. We have the most enjoyable music. We have a beautiful building. We have, we have, and we have. Some do not come to church because they feel the opposite about the above mentioned things. I pray you church has all or most of the positives. I also pray that you realize they are worthless without the presence of God. There is more to these blessings. These blessings are only the bows, and paper, and ribbons, and bows! Is our Heavenly Father trying to get us to give up the bow for the real present? Only you can answer that in your life. Do you have a concern for the hidden man of the heart?

In a few days, we will give gifts once again to a nearly 16-year old. The paper will be removed in short order and the gift will be the important thing. One day, she may even become more like her father, and just want the gift unwrapped because I can hardly wait. I remember feeling that way in church. I cannot wait for the singing to be over and the preaching to begin. I love to sing but to hear from God and His perfect Word is for more a got to have it item.

So I close and ask, are you playing with the paper, or enjoying the gift?