Today I read the Book of Habakkuk. What a sobering, scary, yet
reassurring word. God is in control, people! I realize this is true
in the world wide sense and on a personal scale. God is in control.
God is not blind to the state of affairs in our country. God is not
deaf to our prayers. God has not absenced himself from us.
At the same time we need to recognize that we can't play games with God. God cannot be conned into doing our will or being on “our side.”
It seems abundantly clear in Scripture that:
1. Our confidence needs to be, not in men, or might, or money, but in the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. If you google this verse and then read all the corresponding verses it is a culture shock. We have become very accustomed to the ways of this world.
2. God cares about justice and caring for the poor, the stranger within our gates, the sick, the children, the vulnerable. Zechariah 7:10 "Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.' 11"But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.…
(biblehub.com does a god job of referencing Scriptures with the same theme.)
3. We better not take God's name in vain, which I fear is being done by so many of us lately...claiming the name of Christian but refusing to follow Jesus. Refusing to love God above all and our neighbors/and enemies as ourselves. (Ok, I know that is tough, but how do we pray for those we consider our enemies?) Exodus 20:7
Jesus, help us to follow you! Help us to live so as to bring glory to your name. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable unto you! You are Lord, you are king, you are in control, whether I see it or not.
Habakkuk 3:3 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord.
At the same time we need to recognize that we can't play games with God. God cannot be conned into doing our will or being on “our side.”
It seems abundantly clear in Scripture that:
1. Our confidence needs to be, not in men, or might, or money, but in the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. If you google this verse and then read all the corresponding verses it is a culture shock. We have become very accustomed to the ways of this world.
2. God cares about justice and caring for the poor, the stranger within our gates, the sick, the children, the vulnerable. Zechariah 7:10 "Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.' 11"But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.…
(biblehub.com does a god job of referencing Scriptures with the same theme.)
3. We better not take God's name in vain, which I fear is being done by so many of us lately...claiming the name of Christian but refusing to follow Jesus. Refusing to love God above all and our neighbors/and enemies as ourselves. (Ok, I know that is tough, but how do we pray for those we consider our enemies?) Exodus 20:7
Jesus, help us to follow you! Help us to live so as to bring glory to your name. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable unto you! You are Lord, you are king, you are in control, whether I see it or not.
Habakkuk 3:3 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord.
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