Sunday, January 19, 2014

Love Lifted Me


courtesy Gospelgifs

Each year a group of member church exchange pulpits.  Today our guest minister was Pastor Dave from United Methodist Church. 
 
His reading was from Psalms 40:1-17.
I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.   He brought me up also out of a horrible slime pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.   And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God...

Our set of values may create hero’s such as the Beatles being more popular than Jesus Christ. 

When Moses was too long upon the mountain, the people soon forgot about the true God. 

Instead they were partying and crafting man made new golden gods to worship.

The commandments that God gave Moses were rules to keep a balance in life and to maintain a safe environment.  When kept, justice and peace will prevail.

Rev Dave gave an illustration;  During a war, our troops were overseas, and the MPs knew a soccer field had land mines planted there by the enemy.  A group of children came to play and the soldiers tried to warn them, but the children did not understand English.  In their effort to remove the children, their parents came to rescue their offspring and were angry with the soldiers.

Many today are warned about certain lifestyles, but their ears are deaf to the counsel because they are having too much fun to heed the caution given.  They even are furious at those who oppose their sin.

Rules when heeded will help keep us safe. 

Slime pits might refer to a loss of purpose and the of meaning of life because of defeat and tragedy. 

The pit of depression may be from loss of a job, business failure, or our fading health.

The muddy clay may also refer to sin that does so easily beset us.

What ever the muddy slime pits in life, God is able to lift us up and set our feet on His solid rock, Jesus Christ.

What to do?  We try many avenues to lift ourselves out of the slime, but to no avail.

Self help is often a wasted effort.

What we need to do is cry out to God who places us on a firm foundation.  We matter to God!  As a father cares for his children, God cares for you.

 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing Hazel always so good
Vicki K

Sharon said...

This was a wonderful message, Hazel. And I especially enjoyed the Scripture passage. My father just passed away rather unexpectedly last week, and I can't tell you how much The Rock has steadied me.

He is so good - and so faithful.

The storms rage and the wind blows - but I shall not be moved.

GOD BLESS!

Floyd said...

I like that analogy of the lost world like the kids not being able to understand. The lost world is really like immature beings wanting there way regardless of the price or who's is trying to help. That's powerful.

TC Avey said...

AS I read your post I thought of Psalms 19:9-12

David Rupert said...

what a powerful story. And I feel like I'm that one screaming in a foreign language. "Beware" and waving my arms like a crazy man. All i pray is that some will heed