Psalm 37:1-4 (NKJV) The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
The Evening News is so discouraging. There is mostly hatred and violence and greed. It is so bad I try not to watch the news or read the paper. It just upsets me. I cannot change things. I have voted for who I thought would make it better but the world is still a dark and dangerous place.
King David tells us not to worry about the evildoers and how they seem to prosper. He tells us that they will soon perish. He goes on to remind us to trust in the Lord and walk in His ways. When we do we can “Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.” Would you like to feed on His faithfulness?
A few days ago, I was at a meeting where the guys were talking about a shooting in San Bernadino which I knew nothing about. I am a little embarrassed that I am so ill informed but I get overwhelmed by the darkness and violence. The only way I can deal with all the bad is to not know. It makes me anxious and that is not right. I am a Christ follower and I am supposed to trust in Him. Then why am I so anxious? What am I afraid of? Isn’t His grace sufficient? Isn’t He still on His throne? Yes He is! But I still don’t understand why He allows all this evil. How can I deal with it all? That is the point. It is not up to me or you! It is all up to Him.
As I have approached Christmas over the past years, I have been sad. I look at the condition of the world and I am embarrassed that the Lord is coming and I still haven’t cleaned up my corner of the world. The Christmas Season held little joy for me because I had the wrong focus. I thought I was responsible for the world. How could I face Him and explain why things are so bad. I thought I had control. Finally, I realized that it is my Father’s World and I am not in control. What a relief! While I am responsible for what I do and how I act, the world is not my fault nor responsibility! When you think you are in control, it is a heavy burden. With great power comes great responsibility. I do not want either. I just want to walk with my Lord and do His will. He asks us to take care of widows and orphans and love others as He has loved us. I can try to do that! You can too! Are you walking around with the weight of the world on your shoulders? Isn’t it a bit heavy? Why not lay it down at the foot of the cross and enjoy the beauty of the season when we remember how much He loves us? When you trust in the Lord, you will be able to feed on His faithfulness. He is with you always. Enjoy Him forever! The wicked will be cut down. Grace is coming for you!
Lord, help me to trust you and not lean on my own understanding. Teach me Your ways that I might walk in them. Help me to release control and reach for the joy of Your Salvation. Instead of the outlook, help me to focus on Your Uplook and fix my eyes on You. And, grant all these blessings to my friends as well. Come Lord Jesus, come! In Your name I pray! Amen!