relationships (Psalm 76:1-12) Commitment

(Psalm 76:1-12)  God is known in Judah;

     His name is great in Israel.
2   His tabernacle is in Salem;
     His dwelling place also is in Zion.
3   There He broke the flaming arrows,
     The shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah 

4   You are resplendent,
     More majestic than the mountains of prey.
5   The stouthearted were plundered,
     They sank into sleep;
     And none of the warriors could use his hands.
6   At Your rebuke, God of Jacob,
     Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
7   You, You indeed are to be feared,
     And who may stand in Your presence, once You are angry?

8   You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
     The earth feared and was still 
9   When God arose to judgment,
     To save all the humble of the earth. Selah 
10 For the wrath of mankind shall praise You;
     You will encircle Yourself with a remnant of wrath.

11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;
     All who are around Him are to bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.
12 He will cut off the spirit of princes;
     He is feared by the kings of the earth.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God created us as social beings, with an intention to have a close, personal relationship with Him.  When Adam and Eve sinned, this sin brought in death (both physical and spiritual) and created a separation between us and God.  The Lord is holy and therefore cannot have a relationship with sin.  But because God still desires that all people come to know Him personally, He came in flesh to pay the cost for all sin - taking onto Himself all the punishment meant for us.  And since He is loving, He has never and will never force anyone to love Him back.  It is our personal choice.

With all of this in mind, we can see how everyone has this innate desire to commit - to someone or something - but with sin in our way, we struggle to know exactly how and with whom.  We can also observe how people of every age and in ever culture will, not only commit, but feel compelled to give of their time, energy, resources and/or give of themselves.  What or who is our God or god/s is evident by what or who comes first in our lives.  THIS is what or whom we serve and "worship".

To me it is such a no-brainer decision.  God created all things, and created us with purpose.  So, I want to worship, fear (deeply respect), admire and cling to the One who is sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful and everywhere present - who is righteous and holy - who is fair and just - and who is also loving and caring!  And He wants to pour into us and guide us in and into a better way, which includes a guaranteed eternal life.  

Again, such a no-brainer decision!  Yet we struggle with this.  Part of the benefits of choosing salvation in Jesus Christ, is that He saves us and He changes us and He works in and through us - when we ask.  He does it all FOR us.  Therefore, even in our struggles to trust and believe, we can ask Him to help.  So, by all means, a person can decide to stay on God's angry side - or - we can decide to live and rest in the Lord's perfect and gracious peace, love and security!