What Matters

BIG MISTAKE!!

I opened Facebook to check on something before I opened my Bible this morning.

What did I find? Arguments – some civil, some not – over our president, over the virus, over data, over masks, over current protests and riots. People I know and people I don’t know weighing in with a comment or emoji, never reaching common ground.

The division is huge, and while there can be strength in the communication of opposing ideas, the vitriol and condescension and sarcasm negate the power of the conversations, resulting in an attack, a war.

Divided we fall…..

Disheartened, I did what I should have done in the first place – I opened my Bible, and I read the TRUTH.  Today, it was Psalm 96.  I found something there.

• I found a purpose and a task:

“Sing unto the Lord”; “Declare His glory”; “Give unto the Lord the glory due His name”;  tell the unbelievers “that the Lord reigns”. (v. 1, 2, 8, 10)

• I found the Creator and the Source of truth:

“For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” (v. 6)

• I found a challenge:

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (v. 9)

• I found reality:

“Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth; the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: He shall judge the people righteously. (v. 10)

• I found hope:

“Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees ofthe wood rejoice before the Lord: for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.” v. 12, 13)

Some reading this may say that I am burying my head in the sand and refusing to engage with the problems of the world. I reply that I am burying my heart, my life, AND my head in the God of the Universe to gain a healthy and right perspective on the problems in this world. I am not perfect; He is. I am not all knowing; He is. I need to take my marching orders from Him.

What matters, whether I am 18 or 80, is my response to the authority of God. Do I realize my need for the Savior? Do I place God’s way above my own?  From the moment of conception, death is certain.  While this seems harsh, we must recognize this to understand our need of the Savior Who has conquered death.

So much noise in this world today! So much disarray that distracts us from the Source of joy and peace. So much finger pointing that keeps us from seeing the real enemy. God is not the author of confusion (II Corinthians 14:13); Satan is (John 8:44), and he is writing best sellers that are flying off the shelves.

I believe in caring for people and helping and supporting others, and the best help I can offer is grace found in my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY way through this maze of problems we are attempting to navigate.

So, today, I will

• sing His song;

• bless His name;

• show out His salvation;

• declare His glory;

• worship Him in holiness;

• tell unbelievers (and believers) that He reigns, and He will judge righteously.

AND

pray that God will allow me to speak grace and truth in every situation, that my words will build up and strengthen, and that all that I am and all that I do will point others to Him!

Tomorrow morning, I will open my Bible first.  I hope you do the same.

Photo At the River Beth Mims