JULY 23, 2023

  “And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” 

― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

PSALM 38-40

1I relied completely on the Lord,

and he turned toward me

and heard my cry for help.

2He lifted me out of the watery pit,

out of the slimy mud.

He placed my feet on a rock

and gave me secure footing.

3He gave me reason to sing a new song,

praising our God.

May many see what God has done,

so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!(40:1-3)

ACTS 23:12-35

12The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

JOURNAL 

Trusting God in the midst of trouble...David speaks of it in the Psalms and here is Paul with death plots being hatched all around him. How do they persist? How do they have confidence in the midst of such dire circumstances? 

It can only be the spirit of God...the same spirit that comforted Jesus and guided him his whole life. The same spirit that gave confidence and passion to David, Joseph, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Peter etc. The spirit of God transforms the weak into the strong. It transforms evil into righteousness. It makes the fearful courageous and the hateful loving.

Scientifically it can't really be explained, it is a mystery yet the evidence of it is undeniable. I know in my own life I have experienced its power and the way it can transform the very worst in me. It is a gift that can't be earned or bought, it just must be accepted and once accepted it frees us to become "heirs of God"!

14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^f And by him we cry, “Abba,^g Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

ROMANS 8:14-17