Psalm 27 Whom Shall I Fear?

The just shall live by his faith, not by his fear. There are many things in life that can be a source of fear. It can be financial, social, even political. But whether enemies surround my life, or I lose everything I own, or   people persecute me for whatever reasons, I can trust in the Lord all the days of my life. Let's examine some of the things David says about God that should move me to trust him.

The Lord is my light... In the darkest hours of persecution, ridicule, slander, etc. God remains as the source of light for my life. It is a light that shines within. It is not external. I may look down the tunnel of life, filled with darkness, with no light in sight, but I have a God who promises to be with me and provide the light I need. The light at the end of the tunnel may help me see the path, but the Lord illuminates one step at a time. Faith is not to fret because I can't see the path. It is to overcome the paralysis and take one step at a time with the light God provides.

The Lord is my salvation... If my life had been all safe and secure, I would have no need of saving. But the truth is that my life is in danger. I was lost, in sin, estranged from God. But God rescued me and continues to rescue me day by day. The perils of life cannot take my confidence in God away because he saves me. Many times I think that this rescue is from the dangers against my physical life, but the truth is that there are many more threats against my soul. God saves me from losing my faith in him.

The Lord is the stronghold of my life... When enemies assail me, I can run to the arms of my God. He is my refuge. A stronghold is a place that has been fortified to resist enemy attacks. When I am bombarded by ungodly thoughts, I can run to God's presence. When temptation seems to overcome my will, I can seek God's face. It is not necessarily a physical place. It is a soul place. It is to engage the mind, the emotions, and the will to connect with God through all the resources he has given us: his word, prayer, etc.

The one thing David asked God was to dwell in his house all the days of his life. That prayer has been answered through Jesus Christ. Through the Spirit of God, I can enjoy God's presence every day without having to visit a building made by human hands. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit thanks to the work of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He fills my life with his light. He rescues me day by day from the perils of life that assail my faith. He becomes a stronghold for me when I need to take refuge from the attacks of the enemy.

Father, help me live by faith and not by fear. Fill my heart with your light. Rescue me from the world, self, and sin. May I run to you when I feel faint under the attacks of life. Amen.

Acts 9:1-9 The Conversion of Saul

Saul of Tarsus, later the apostle Paul, was determined to take down Christians "breathing threats and murder" against them. He went to the high priest to ask for letters to capture them in the surrounding towns and bring them back to Jerusalem. It is not certain what the nature of the letters were, but it could have been   some sort of a license to capture and transport Christians. There are many people like Saul in the world today. I have to admit the reality that the Sauls of this life will persecute believers around the world.  Am I ready if it becomes my turn? I pray that I will be ready.

Paul's target was the city of Damascus, a very important city in his day. It was a center of Greco-Roman culture and trade in the Near East. Christians were thought of as people belonging to the Way. This word refers literally to a road, but metaphorically to a path, way of life, a lifestyle. In the midst of a very pagan culture at the time, Christians stood out as people who had a very different lifestyle. Their ways were not the world's ways. Is my lifestyle different than the world in which I live today? Could someone watch my lifestyle and say that I am different than the world in which I live? If my lifestyle is not any different than the world's, what kind of Christian am I then? Nominal? One who gives lip service to Christ, but whose lifestyle is not a reflection of his teachings, but the world's.

Saul was going his own way persecuting people belonging to the Way when a light from heaven flashed around him. This was a very bright light and he was knocked to the ground and he heard a voice that asked: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?" Our Lord Jesus Christ's identification with his church, his body is so intimate that to persecute a Christian is to persecute Christ himself. Anyone who comes after me to persecute me is actually persecuting Jesus. When I am persecuted, ridiculed, or simply left out in this world, I must remember that they are doing it unto him and not just me. I am not alone!

From other accounts we know that Paul not only heard Jesus' voice, but saw him as the resurrected Christ and received instructions from him to wait. By his compliance to the voice is clear that Saul was disarmed and completely surrendered to Christ. The man that was breathing threats and murder was tamed by the power of the presence of the Lord. The self-sufficient and self-righteous Saul was brought to his knees and blinded to the point of needing others to guide him by the hand. When Christ steps into somebody's path, he changes its course forever. I must not forget that it does not matter how difficult someone may seem for Gospel, my Lord is capable of transforming hearts with his powerful presence.

Father, prepare my heart to stand strong against those who persecute you. Help me to evaluate my lifestyle and transform it to be different from the world and pleasing to you. May I never give up on anyone who rejects you no matter how difficult they may be. Amen.

Matthew 5:13-20 Salt and Light

By nature, salt and light are salty and bright respectively. Their properties are inherent characteristics of what they are. Salt was used as a preservative and a seasoning. It was a symbol of durability and value. Light is used to represent the good; that which is of high moral character. 

Those who belong to the kingdom of God ought to be salt and light. The saltiness and brightness of a Christian is determined by good works. Good works don't justify, but they testify. If I am a member of the kingdom of God, my conduct will be so different from the world that even the world will notice that I am different. We are not to conform to the world's attitudes and conduct, but we are to follow the kingdom's attitudes and conduct.

We were created for good works. Good works that God has prepared for us to do even before we were born. We are called to walk in them (See Eph. 2:10); to be a model of them (Titus 2:7-8); to be devoted to them (Titus 3:14); and to be zealous for them (Titus 2:14).

I need to make changes in my attitudes and conduct that conform to kingdom values and stop excusing myself because "everybody else does it." I need to rise above "everyone else" in the name of God and set a standard for myself that is above the world's. It requires my willing determination as well as my working discipline to make it happen.

Lord, help me live a life that is salty and bright. Help me work the good deeds you have set for me to honor you. Don't allow me to conform and become complacent, but challenge me to do your will.

Matthew 4:12-17 Jesus Begins His Ministry

Jesus begins his ministry in the midst of much social, political, and religious turmoil. His withdrawal right after John's arrest tells me that Jesus was not a demonstrator. At times, I confuse the kingdom of God and its agenda with protesting for something or someone. Jesus could have mobilized people to get John out of jail. Maybe he could have planned a revolt to liberate him. He simply avoided being noticed because the kingdom agenda demanded that.

Even from the start, we see Jesus interested in the needs of the Gentiles. As fulfillment to a prophecy Jesus made his base of ministry among those who needed it the most. Jesus became the light in the midst of darkness. Ministry is to serve those who are in need. It is not a social club for "us four and no more." I must seek the needs of the community and shine the light of Christ upon them.

Jesus' ministry, though distinct from John the Baptist, is also a continuity to the work that John - and all the prophets before him, had started. The message of the kingdom continues to be one of repentance. Ministry can take many shapes and forms. Ministry can become creative and challenging to society. But ministry must never change the message. There is a legacy that I must respect and continue to preach what I have learned.

Ministry is not protest. It is to shine the light of Christ upon people who live in darkness. It is to continue preaching to the world that repentance is the only way into the kingdom.

Oh God, may I never innovate ministry so much that I become a demonstrator missing out its essence. Help me see the need for light in people's darkness and be willing to serve that need. Teach me to preach repentance until the end of my days, no matter how old-fashioned it may become.