On that Day

Psalm 16-18

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.”

The cry of so many people, some who go by the name of Christian, but many who have never heard, never seen lived out to them the love of Jesus Christ, and yes, they are lonely and afflicted, often by their actions.  But unlike King David, they get angry and bitter at a God who does not remove these obstacles from their circumstances.  And the more they dwell on the situation, the larger the problem becomes and many of them foolishly look to government to solve a need that only the grace and love of Jesus can change.  Many never consider their sins, and some who are religious believe God is punishing them for their actions.

Let us deal with punishment when Jesus Christ was put on a cross by fearful and evil, self-seeking men.  He was without sin, perfect in God’s eyes.  There never was a moment Jesus and the Father had not been one, till that day, and on that day, Jesus allows sin, yours and mine, and all sin from the beginning till the end of time, to fall on Him.  On that day God, Jesus’ Father took His full anger out on Jesus.  All the punishment that you and I deserved fell on Jesus Christ, so never be foolish and say God is punishing me; Jesus became our punishment, on that day and our Redeemer. 

To long have we who are followers of Christ looked with sorrow in our hearts for those who we see who are lonely and afflicted.  We give money to help, and even some of us have fixed a few ramps for the wheelchair-bound people when we know of the need.  But what about those who live around us, on our street, do we care that they may need someone to listen and care for them?

If I understand Micah 6:8 correctly, are we not to be the hands and feet of Jesus are we not called to love our neighbor as our self.  Let’s review Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  It is time to begin obeying as followers of Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice