I come to you for protection, O LORD my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me! [Psalm 7.1]
I wish we could all see ourselves for a moment from God's perspective.
What is the first thing we do when a need presents itself to us? In most cases, we turn to whatever device or system of man designed to meet that need. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology come to mind. They provide for and protect us.
But what if we truly believed God had indeed provided everything for us in Christ Jesus?
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4.19]
What are God's glorious riches given to us in Christ Jesus? In short, everything we need.
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. [Psalm 23.1]
If we indeed saw ourselves from God's perspective, would we realize that God meets our every need? Or, would we just want more?
It is appalling how busy we are about meeting our own needs (mostly trying to pay for debt, insurance, medicine and technology) instead of being content that God is our Provider and therefore resting in His provision. What does that even look like? In fact, Philippians chapter 4 addresses this very thing.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. [Philippians 4.6-13]
And yet, people (myself included) read these passages through the secular lenses of human ingenuity and sufficiency with little or no consideration of what they really mean. Consequently, they toil away their lives working endlessly to obtain the physical, financial and emotional security the world has convinced (brainwashed?) them they both need and deserve.
When will it stop? The answer is, when we die.
However, Jesus gives us hope. He has offered that we might die with Him to be delivered from the endless toils and absurdity of humanity while still on earth! This is exactly what Paul was writing about to the church in Philippi. In Jesus, our every need, starting with our future for eternity, is met.
So...
Back to work? Back to the toil of meeting our own needs because no one else will? Back to keeping up with the styles, trends and fads of society? Back to Godlessness!
No! Come to God for every protection! Jesus is the Way!
Father, may we be found genuinely coming to You (as David wrote) for every protection - whether physical, financial or emotional. May we really see You as our Deliverer from the persecutions of debt, insurance, medicine and technology, not to mention those who despise and use us. Yes, it seems so foolish to make these declarations when man's advancements provide so much... Remind us that the price we pay for these worldly protections is a repulsive slap in Your face compared to the price You already paid for us in the blood of Your Son. May our lives not be found so worldly!
No comments:
Post a Comment