3Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
4How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
5You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.
7Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
These words are from Psalm 80, verses 3 through 7 (NIV) and they are beautiful. It is a heart’s cry to God. It is a heart’s cry for restoration and salvation. It is a heart’s cry for God to step in, step up for His people and make things right.
But is it God’s job to make things right? Is it God’s job, after the decisions that we make create the mayhem that they do, to step in and clean up our mess? Is God’s reason for being to tend to our needs and make straight our paths? I would simply assert that it is not. God’s word teaches us of this relationship that we enter into with our creator – and teaches us that there are decisions to be made and that there are consequences of those decisions. Will we submit to God’s will – or not? Will we trust Him with our lives – or not? Will we be intentional in our relationship with Him – or not? Will we live the life of the redeemed and speak the Truth about the Christ – or not? When we pass from this world, will be go to heaven and spend eternity in the presence of the Almighty – or not?
Powerful decisions with powerful consequences; and it is clear that we are to make them for ourselves. Remember the words from John 3, beginning with verse 17, “For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Jesus, as the Christ, does not stand in judgement; He stands as the Truth. We being judgement upon ourselves when we deny the truth.
Do you believe, as many do, that God exists to serve you? Do you then blame Him for the bad and demand from Him only the good? Do you believe that God has brought calamity upon you – calamity that you do not deserve because well, your YOU!? Do you believe that it is His job to serve you – and save you? If so, you probably agree with the psalmist above and have prayed many prayers for God to stop being mean and do the right thing for once.
Or…have you submitted to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you simply pray, “Here I am, Lord. Thy will be done.”
4How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
5You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.
7Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
These words are from Psalm 80, verses 3 through 7 (NIV) and they are beautiful. It is a heart’s cry to God. It is a heart’s cry for restoration and salvation. It is a heart’s cry for God to step in, step up for His people and make things right.
But is it God’s job to make things right? Is it God’s job, after the decisions that we make create the mayhem that they do, to step in and clean up our mess? Is God’s reason for being to tend to our needs and make straight our paths? I would simply assert that it is not. God’s word teaches us of this relationship that we enter into with our creator – and teaches us that there are decisions to be made and that there are consequences of those decisions. Will we submit to God’s will – or not? Will we trust Him with our lives – or not? Will we be intentional in our relationship with Him – or not? Will we live the life of the redeemed and speak the Truth about the Christ – or not? When we pass from this world, will be go to heaven and spend eternity in the presence of the Almighty – or not?
Powerful decisions with powerful consequences; and it is clear that we are to make them for ourselves. Remember the words from John 3, beginning with verse 17, “For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Jesus, as the Christ, does not stand in judgement; He stands as the Truth. We being judgement upon ourselves when we deny the truth.
Do you believe, as many do, that God exists to serve you? Do you then blame Him for the bad and demand from Him only the good? Do you believe that God has brought calamity upon you – calamity that you do not deserve because well, your YOU!? Do you believe that it is His job to serve you – and save you? If so, you probably agree with the psalmist above and have prayed many prayers for God to stop being mean and do the right thing for once.
Or…have you submitted to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you simply pray, “Here I am, Lord. Thy will be done.”
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