Psalm 12 God's Word Can Be Trusted

There is a biblical story in 1Kings19 about Elijah. After having a great victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah is pursued by Jezebel, a very wicked woman. He flees to the wilderness and wants to die. His complaint before God is that he is the only one left to serve the Lord surrounded by the wicked of his generation. But spoke to Elijah and made him see that he was not alone; there were many more faithful ones like him that he did not know about. God encouraged him to gain strength and continue the battle of faith without giving up.

Psalm 12 speaks of a generation that is wicked and oppressing to the righteous. The psalmist, King David, feels like all the righteous ones have vanished and he is all alone left to deal with their evil lies and deceits. But the Lord promises to guard the faithful in this generation and he offers safety for the future. David is encouraged by God's Word. To him, the Word of God is pure - free from dross, impurities like refined silver (not once, but seven times refined). God's Word can be trusted!

The generation that we are living today is also a generation similar to David's time. Evil, injustice, pain, and suffering prevail. God promises to guard our hearts in the midst of a generation like this and he promises a better future of eternal life. I must trust God's Word. His promises are true. He will not allow me to be swallowed up by an unfaithful generation. He will guard my heart from being choked by it. I am not alone in the battle of faith. There are many others battling as well and trusting the promises of our God.

Father, fill my heart with faith to trust in your promises for today. Fill me also with hope as I trust in your promises for my future. Guard my heart from this generation. I await with eagerness my liberation. Amen.

Joshua 5:1-9 The New Generation Circumcised

Circumcision is the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. Circumcision marked those who were born into the nation of Israel as partakers of the promises given to Abraham - the promises of a people, land, and blessings. Those who were circumcised the first time did not believe God's promises and because of their unbelief, God made them wander 4o years in the desert and did not allow them to enter the land and enjoy rest in it. God called for a second circumcision to cover those who were born along the way - the new generation. God promises to give them entrance into the land - his rest.

Today, Baptism is the initiatory rite into the kingdom of God for all those who are born again. Circumcision was never meant to be of the flesh only. In other words, circumcision alone does not grant entry into the kingdom of God. Circumcision of the heart is vital. Baptism is the public proclamation of my faith - my trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior. It is my identification with Christ in his death. It is my act of obedience to my Master. It is my total dedication to the kingdom of God. Baptism is a vital part of my life as a believer.

God is seeking for a new generation that is willing to believe in his promises. God will not allow the enjoyment of his promises to grumblers and complainers who don't trust him. He is seeking people who are circumcised, not in the flesh, but in their hearts. People who have been truly born again and trust his promises as Yes and Amen without grumbling and complaining. I want to be part of that new generation - a man circumcised in my heart who trusts God with all my strength.

The conquest of the promised land, the establishment of God's kingdom upon the earth, is the privilege of those who are born again and proclaim publicly their allegiance to the one and only true God. Those who shy away from the initiatory rite of Baptism do not have a right to participate in the conquest of the promised land. It is the privilege of those who have pledged their lives to the living God without reservation.

Lord, may my commitment to you be total and not half-hearted. I want to establish your kingdom upon earth with all the resources you have given me. Make me part of that new generation that is circumcised, not in the flesh, but in the heart.

Matthew 11:1-19 Messengers from John the Baptist

I am struck by the contrast between John's and Jesus' ministries. John's ministry was characterized by his asceticism (severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgence). Christ's ministry was characterized by eating and drinking with  tax collectors and sinners. Yet neither of them were accepted by the people of their generation. 

Jesus compares the people of his generation to children in the marketplace calling their playmates. These children are manipulative. They want their playmates to fulfill their desires to dance or mourn at their whim; never satisfied with what they get. John the Baptist was accused of being demon possessed. Jesus was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. 

Nonetheless, Jesus and John have one thing in common. They were both called to fulfill a ministry according to the Scriptures. The qualifications that Christ gives to John's messengers are fulfillments of Isaiah's prophecies concerning the Messiah. And Christ pointed out to the people that John was also the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Elijah to come. Their identity and call are reassured. The criticism of the people doesn't matter. They both set out, against all odds, to minister to a generation reluctant to the Gospel.

Our generation is no different. It is a generation used to being served; to being catered. It is a "your way right away" generation. Unfortunately, this attitude has infiltrated into the church as well. But, ministry is not about catering to people's wants. It is about serving people's needs. And the greatest need of humanity is salvation. Ministry is not about style, but about substance. And the substance is the reality of acknowledging God's call to serve him in whatever capacity he desires.

Lord, reassure my heart in my salvation and calling to serve you. Don't let my heart sink when people criticize me. Give me the strength to stand firm with the conviction to serve you all the days of my life. May opposition and criticism never shake my commitment to serve you.