Read Psalm 1:1&2
God created us with a desire to be loved and needed; in most of us a longing to contribute to the needs of others. As a majestic and sovereign God who created all things, his best creation was indeed HIS CHILDREN - we are a celebration of His love and He has placed great value on us.
One of the things about being a cancer survivor is that when you start feeling fit and healthy again there is this real pressure (you place on yourself) to do something significant. As a survivor, you know you must have been chosen by God to`change the world'. You see people on TV who are doing all these amazing things, and you wonder, well, what can I do?
About 18years ago I was in a similar place. I had just lost my younger sister to breast cancer, and although I was in `survivor' mode, I was grieving. I was 35 years old and desperately felt the need to make a difference in the world. I was very much alive - physically - so I knew God had a special purpose for my life. I was a wife, a mother, a parent helper at my school, and up until moving to Adelaide where teaching R.E in Schools was no longer permissable, I had been very involved with children's and women's outreach in the army communities in which I had lived. But suddenly depression and anxiety had overtaken me, so much so that my life had become rather debilitating. Yes, I had a heart to serve, but suddenly I had lost the ability.
My journey back began in this psalm, so as I come here again I am seeking that renewal and refreshing I found back in 1995, though I realize it may come in a different way. Once again stuck in this vicious cycle - with a heart and a passion to live a life for the Lord, yet lacking the emotional vitality to do so, the Lord may have a new lesson to teach me.
Like all David's psalms they are not simply `reflections of a creative artist', but led by the Holy Spirit, His words are promises from God. Back in 1995, I discovered this promise:
"When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you CARE for him?" Psalm 8:3&4
It has taken me a little longer to discover that this value and care God places on me does not depend on me accomplishing His work. I don't have to earn His love. You see God honours us by accomplishing His work through us. I have found that when I do His work it brings me so much pleasure, but it is not a way to earn God's love or the love of others. It is definitely not a way to earn salvation, for that we know is only earned by GOD'S GRACE.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God, not by works, so that anyone can boast. We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10.
We have been placed a `little lower than the angels' and have been crowned, just liked His Son Jesus Christ, `with glory and honour'. Join me today and claim this promise of God's personal GRACE, LOVE AND CARE. This promise will never change over the years.
1.a) Was there a time in your life when have felt the need to `change the world'?
b) Have you ever felt the need to earn God's love? How did this make you feel?
c) How did you feel when you discovered the truth about GRACE?
If you haven't discovered this truth yet, I am here or can lead you to someone who can help you.
OUR MAJESTIC GOD
Read Psalm 1&2
"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!" Psalm 1:1
Many well known praise and worship choruses from the 80's and 90's use these words, but the original come from David himself. It is believed he wrote them just after he had defeated Goliath.
When David returned from killing Goliath and watching the Philistines flee, the people were dancing, singing and playing their musical instruments, celebrating his win. But David knew better - the true glory for the battle needed to go to our omnipotent, all powerful, all sovereign God and Father. Even as a young child David knew that God was the one that He needed to praise and adore, and that no enemy could defeat Him.
"David celebrates the supreme power of God over everything. He declares from the beginning that God has no rival. He is subject to no other power and He reigns supreme." Charles R Swindoll.
2. Can you think of a praise and majestic chorus that you love to sing with these words? Maybe you can take some time to sing it now.
GOD CARES FOR YOU
Read Psalm 8:3&4, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:30
Even as a young child, David loved to stargaze. It reminded him, not only how great His God was, but how important he was to God, even though, he was only so small. As we're contemplating over the recent Boston Bombing and other disasters that have been happening all over our world, we are reminded that God has so many things to take care of. Still, David reminds us GOD CARES FOR US. Peter later reminds us GOD CARES ABOUT YOU; and even Jesus Himself took the time to make sure we knew that GOD CERTAINLY CARED FOR YOU.
"What is mortal man that you remember us, or the Son of Man that you take care of Him" Psalm 8:4 (GWT)
"Turn all your anxiety over to God because He cares for You." 1 Peter 5:7(GWT)
"If that is how God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?" Matthew 6:30 (NLT)
3. Take some time now to think about some things in your life that you need to bring before the Lord. Remember he cares about what you may seem are even the simplest things.
GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A TRUE PLACE OF DIGNITY
Read Psalm 5-8, Matthew 10:5-10
It doesn't always feel like it, but God has given us a place of dignity in the world, for his purpose is more important than anything you could imagine; and this is highlighted in this Psalm.
Not only are we `higher than the angels' (in some versions, it is put, `a little lower than God'), we are placed equal with Jesus Christ, God's own Son. We have been given charge over everything in the world, God has made. A great responsibility. You bet - and sometimes a little overwhelming.
I am not a Catholic, but one of the greatest blessings I have had over my years of ministry has been able to worship interdenominationally. One Catholic service I attended was dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, who I learnt was the patron saint of nature. This Sunday the children had been encouraged to bring their pets to Church, and it was the first time I heard this story:
"St Francis (born in 1182) was the son of rich man who sold fine cloth. Francis also loved bright clothing and fine things, but as a child he was also known for his charitable heart and his love of nature. One day he saw a child in the market place who was cold, and he took one of his father's finest coats, and gave it to her.
Later in 1201, after returning from military service where he had been a captive, Francis had a spiritual experience. He was in his church praying. It was a very run down Church and needed a lot of work. It is said he saw a vision of Jesus who told him to `go and repair my house which as you see is falling into ruins'. He took this to mean he was have the Church rebuilt, and using his profits from his father's business he did just that. Not happy with him, Pietro, his father, beat him and after legal precedings, Francis disowned his father and set out to serve the Lord. For two years he lived in the countryside surrounding Assisi, and rebuilt the little chapels in the surrounding towns.
In 1209, in one of these Chapels, Francis heard a sermon that changed his life. Based on Matthew 10, where Jesus sent out his disciples to minister.
"Don't take any money in your money belts - no gold, silver or even copper coins. Don't take a travelling bag for your trip, a change of clothes, sandals or a walking stick. After all, the worker deserves to have his needs met." Matthew 10:9&10
Francis set out, making a vow of poverty, clad in a rough garment, barefoot, sharing the gospel of repentance. To cut a long story short, St Francis as he later became known, devoted his life to poverty, missions work, caring for God creature's and sharing the gospel."
Now I don't believe Jesus was necessarily telling us we have to live in poverty, but I do believe that St Francis got the message, as David shared in this Psalm, that as valued children of God, created like His Son Jesus Christ, we are to live a life as Jesus did, caring and loving all God's creatures. Most importantly we are to follow the example of St Francis sharing the gospel of salvation with those who have ears to hear.
4. What is something you can do today to show that you love and care for God's creatures like Jesus did?
BENEDICTION
Read Psalm 8:9
David began with a Doxology, praising and adoring his great God, and he finished exactly the same way. The greatest lesson I learnt back in 1995, that is still relevant today, is that no matter how honoured I feel for the work I do for the Lord, no matter how loved and recognized, all glory goes to God. St Francis of Assissi also knew this when he wrote his well known hymn back in 1225, "All Creatures of Our God and King", and David knew it when when he finished this psalm with these words:
"O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is Your Name throughout the earth." Psalm 8:9 (GWT)
* Living in the Psalms (2012) Charles H Swindoll, Worthy Publishing
*God's Word Translation (2003) Green Key Books
* Wikipedia .org.Francis of Assisi
* The Complete Book of Hymns, Bill & Ardythe Peterson.
* New Living Translation (1996) Tyndale Publishers
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