Our God is a God of salvation

 

Psalm 68:20-35

 

July 4, 2022

 

Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord belongs deliverance from death.   But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.  The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”  Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: “Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”  There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.  Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.   Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.   Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.  Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.  Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.  O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.  Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.  Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

 

Our God is a God of salvation, to all who will receive the free gift of redemption.  So why do so many reject Jesus, why do they hear the wonderful message of the cross and the finished work of our Lord, and yet not ask for forgiveness?  I cannot answer the question for anyone but myself, it took 27 years and a group of five men who loved God to help me see they knew God in a personal way that I was only informed about. 

 

See at a very young age I was so full of self, I thought I was somebody, not having the understanding to know that without Jesus, I was a nobody.  Yes, I was my own god for 26 years of life, a god who lusted and was not happy with my Creator about my big ears or my small frame, why did he not make me fast, tall, and better looking, with a desire to learn, and then I would be popular with the girls and guys.

 

I had no understanding of how much the Father in heaven loved me, I read John 3:16, but why would God love a loser like me, I knew he loved those who were football players, those who could play musical instruments and were the cool kids.  I worked hard to earn love from others; I was anybody’s friend who was one of the cool kids, wanting to be somebody, but I had this desire that was like an empty hole, my god was not able to fill.  You may be thinking that a youth mentality, and it was but it became the desire of my heart.  To be somebody when I did not know how. 

 

But maybe you did not have big ears and a small frame, perhaps you are one of the ones I was working so hard to get to notice me, but you have the same problem, you want to not have any authority over you, you want to do life your way.  How is that working, has that hole your putting relationship and nice stuff in getting full do you just need a little more, and then you find the joy, peace, and contentment?  It was my experience that it will never get full, but it will get messy, it will make it hard to sleep, and that hole you're trying to fill will never get full.   Do you understand that God alone is God and He will not allow you to fill what He only can fill, Jesus is the answer.

 

Will, you today stop and be honest that the stuff and the relationship have temporary fulfillment but it always needs more?  Will you tell God that trying to take His place was foolish, you cannot speak anything into being, you have no power to calm the storms or the sea, and you ask Jesus to forgive you, and ascribe all power to God?  By doing so you are in total agreement with King David when he said; “he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice