Sinking in Sand

"rescue me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters." Psalm 69:14

There is small spot on one of the islands in front of my home of sinking sand. It is a little over a foot wide; yet, it's a bit unnerving to accidentally step into it. As one's ankles and then calves become engulfed in sand you will not tarry. You will step out of it quickly and change your course just as fast. I do not know how much of a person it would swallow if one chose to test the sand. I have never desired to find out.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. We go in ways that are dangerous to ourselves and may even be active in leading others in the wrong way, as well. We stray from the path that Jesus prepared for us and purposefully attempt to travel the path of the unrighteous. There are many dangers on this path that leads away from our Father's house. Sinking in mucky, uncharted swamps is only one of them.

When we find ourselves in danger of sinking in the mire it is time to change course. It is time, to ask for God's help to get back on the path that He has prepared for us.

If you find yourself alone and sinking fast know there is one who can rescue you. There is only one who can save you. Ask and He will lead you on the path of eternal life in His Kingdom. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Help Quickly!

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;

    do not let me ever be put to shame;

    in your righteousness deliver me.

Incline your ear to me;

    rescue me speedily.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

    a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

    for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,

take me out of the net that is hidden for me,

    for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit;

    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Psalm 31:1-5 NRSV

Quickly, Lord; right now; ASAP! I cannot even begin to count the times, just this past week, I have found myself asking the Lord to help and to help quickly!

Whenever we stand on the name of Jesus or strive to do the will of God in opposition to the will of the world, we can pretty much expect to be attacked. There are those in this world who just do not appreciate God's will being done when it interferes with their personal comfort zones. So, I find myself praying for myself, my family, and my congregation a lot. "Rescue us quickly. You who are our rock and our fortress remove the trap that has been set for us. And... Into your hands I commit our spirits."

Thanks be to God! The Lord hears our prayers and has answered! He is our rock and our fortress. His righteousness has delivered us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 39 - I Will Rescue You!

"But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord." (Jer 39:17-18 NIV)

You will escape, because you put your trust in me. That was the LORD's message to  Ebed-Melek as Jerusalem was being seized by the Babylonians. King Zedekiah did not escape; even though he tried to run. His sons were caught and killed as well as all the nobles of Egypt. But, this man, Ebed-Melek, was to be saved because of his faithfulness, in that when Jeremiah was put into the cistern by the nobles, Ebed-Melek helped to effect his release from that prospective death. Ebed-Melek would be saved because he trusted in the LORD and was willing to stick his own neck out to do God's will.

We are reminded, in today's reading, that we are saved by faith. We are saved because we trust that God has saved us through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

Jerusalem has been seized. It was surely a dark hour. But, even in this darkness, the light of God's grace shines. "But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields." (vs 10)

The poor people, Ebed-Melek were granted grace in these very dark times. These unknown people, out there somewhere on the fringe, that no one paid much attention to, and had no one to truly trust, but God, were saved and even blessed.

"I will rescue you, declares the Lord; because you trust in me, declares the Lord"

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 1 - No Excuses

Moving on to a new book... Today, we begin reading Jeremiah.

Jeremiah was not exactly enthusiastic about being called as prophet of the LORD. After all, prophets can become pretty unpopular, pretty fast, and you have to make sure you're not making stuff up out of your own head. If you're called to proclaim God's Word, it better be God's Word you are proclaiming and not your own desires. It's really not a good idea to be running around saying "Thus says the LORD," if the LORD doesn't say it.

Jeremiah's response to the LORD calling him as a prophet was: “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” (Jer 1:6 NIV) Sound familiar? How many excuses can we create to not go and do what God would have us do? To not say what God would have us say? To not be what God would have us be? How many excuses have we made not to answer the call of God?

 

The Lord's responded to Jeremiah: “"Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord." (Jer 1:7-8)

 

Don't bother the LORD with excuses. He knows you and He knows the truth. Answering God's call is not always easy, as Jeremiah and multitudes of prophets, would attest. Not everyone is going to like what they hear and you will find a few more enemies along the way. But, God is with you. He will put His words in your mouth. He will rescue you.

 

Have a blessed day... sharing the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ with the world around you.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

P.S. By the way, a good place to start in knowing exactly what it is that the LORD says is by reading your Bible or attending worship services so that you might hear it during the reading of the daily lessons.