Greetings in the name of our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Another day of rain! I do not normally mind cloudy days, but these misty rainy days that seem to be the norm now are getting a little old. I would like to see the sun shine again even if for only part of the day. Nevertheless, I am still walking around campus in shorts, tshirt, and flip flops because the temperature is perfect. Everyone else in their jeans, long sleeves, coats or sweatshirts are giving me some weird looks or witty comments, but until it actually gets cold I am not going to dress like it is.
Not much else to report on my end. I spent most the day on the phone with insurance companies and medical supply companies. I do not, I repeat I do not like this whole idea of being grown up. I told some one I didn't like being an adult and they replied, "Well that's good because you aren't much of one." I had to laugh since they were quick on their feet. I have my Bi-PAP machine for my sleep apnea and receive new supplies for it every three months in the mail. I was with one company when I first started but then when mom and dad got new insurance they went out of network so I switched to a new company. Now that I am on my own insurance that first company is back in network. Long story short I switched back to the first provider. However, whenever trying to do something like that, you have to make a minimum of 6 phones calls and sit on hold for each one. Anyways, I am thankful for the technological advancements we have because without my breathing machine I might as well be dead. Before I got my machine, I slept through everything, even if I woke up and went to class, I would fall back to sleep in class. So life is much better when you actually breath all night in your sleep. So I am thankful for it, but at times like today this sort of thing is just a pain.
Here is my devotion for Psalm 12. Hope you enjoy and hope wherever you are reading this the sun is shining on you!
Psalm 12:1-2
As you read the first two verses of Psalm 12, it would be easy to think this was written about our culture today. Now we know that it was written by King David during the days of Israel still being a united kingdom. However, as Ecclesiastes states, there is nothing new under the sun. The sin of mankind that seems to prevail in our culture and our time is the same sin of mankind that seemed to prevail in David’s time. Think about it though, the faithful have vanished from mankind, everyone utters lies to his neighbor. Now being Christian and going to church with other Christians, you might think that the faithful have not vanished but are simply out numbered. However, I’m not afraid to throw out the question are today’s “Christians” really the faithful people of God? We say we are Christians, we go to church, we try to do what is right most of the time; but can people tell we are Christians just by simply observing us. Do our actions and deeds really reflect our Christian beliefs? Are we really living as the sanctified, faithful people of God?
We try to be nice, I try to hold the door for people as they come into a building behind me, maybe we try not to use foul language, or we say hello to everyone we walk by. These are good things don’t get me wrong, but are we really the faithful people of God? Do people feel like they can trust us? Do people believe what we say as the truth? Because when I read the first line of verse two, “everyone utters lies to his neighbor”, I automatically agree with it. I think of all the TV shows I watch that are entirely focused around people lying to people. I think of my own friends or people I know who when they tell stories I simply listen for entertainment because I do not believe everything they are saying is cold hard truth. I think of times I have lied to get out of trouble, or cover up a mistake, or simply just to not look stupid. Then I wonder, do people listen to my stories and what I say with a half doubt of whether it is true or not. Christ says in Matthew 5:37, let your yes be yes and your no be no. And then in 12:37 He says by your words you will be justified or by your words you will be condemned.
Do people see us as the faithful people of God who they know they can trust and take their yes as yes or no as no because we have lived a life that proves we are trustworthy, honest, and reliable? Or are we living like the rest of the world, do we allow ourselves to blend in with all the ungodly who boast on their flattering lips and tongue? Are we OK being just like everyone else, not standing out as trustworthy because nobody trusts anybody today anyways? Are we OK with not standing out as honest, because everybody just assumes everyone is lying? Are we OK with not standing out as reliable because then people will ask us to do everything if they know we always come through for them? Are we OK blending in with the rest of the world, giving the appearance that the faithful have vanished? Or do we truly want to be the faithful people of God, and stand out among the ungodly? Do we want people to know that our God reigns, and our lives are proof that His people are faithful to Him?
Our morning devotion this morning was on sanctification. In the prayer, it included praying that we not only be sanctified outwardly at church, or home with our family, but also inwardly that our every thought, word, and deed, even those not seen by anyone else would be sanctified too. If we truly want to be the faithful people of God, we need to beg the Holy Spirit to ever remain in our hearts, give us the strength to live a more sanctified life, and take intentional actions in making sure we do indeed stand out as the holy, faithful people of God. And then as David states in verse 7, the Lord is the one who will keep us and guard us. With evil on every side of us, it is the Lord who will guard us from this evil generation forever. From the time of David until this very present day, the Lord is the one guarding His faithful people from the evil ways of the world. So no matter how bad our world seems to get, strive to be faithful and live a sanctified life for the Lord who keeps you and guards you.
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