Dear friends,
On the 16th of this month early in the morning Patty and I read Psalm 16. It is a Psalm of king David entitled, “The LORD the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.”
Bottom line – we need Him in life and we certainly will need Him when we take our last breath on planet earth. We are in a series from Philippians called, “A Life of Joy.” We can experience a life of joy on earth but fulness of joy and pleasures forevermore – well we will have to wait because that experience only takes place when we meet Him face to face. Psalm 16:11
There are a lot of things that rob us of joy and “circumstances” can be one of them. Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Even in the midst of the most dire circumstances it is possible to be secure and joyful. Read the following verses slowly out loud:
“For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.” Psalm 18:7
“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22
“He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 62:6
Is He your stronghold when life caves in on you, crushes your soul and rocks your world? Our passage for Sunday is Philippians 1:12-18. Verse twelve is a shift in that Paul now informs his beloved friends in Philippi about his situation. “Now I want you to know brethren that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” Wester says that circumstance is, “a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another.”
Despite being in prison Paul could look in the rearview mirror and see “purpose in his chains.” The message of the gospel went to the most unlikely place – Caesar’s household.
Rarely do we view our circumstances in light of the progress of the gospel. However, we should so that we can stand safe, secure, steadfast and not be greatly shaken:
- When the stock market falls
- When the lab results are the opposite of what we hoped for
- When a phone call brings us to tears
- When we can’t decipher real from fake news
- When someone we love walks away
Set the LORD before you today. Take a fresh look at the One who can restore the joy of your salvation. He really can!
Trusting in the King and His unshakeable kingdom,
Glen
P.S. Please join us for the “The Gathering” at 6 pm in our campus Center on Sunday night. Also, please stop by our activity center on Sunday morning after our services we want you to get connected.