July 12, 2006 - Psalms 4-6 and Acts 17:16-34
It is very easy to get frustrated with other people for a variety of reasons. Today, we will read about David and Paul getting frustrated with others because of their unrighteousness. Sin destroys relationships. It leads people to hurt each other, and it leads people to do things that hurt themselves. We all need to hate sin and to see it as an enemy instead of a friend. The problem is that many people see sin as the right way to live. This causes a constant stress between those who are trying to do God's will and those who are trying to live apart from God's will. Let God speak to you about this as you read these passages.
In Psalm 4 is crying out to the Lord, because all around him are people who love worthlessness and seek falsehood. (v.2) He wants them to see that God will not bless them in this kind of attitude. He does not want them to be cynical about the goodness of God and the good things of life. (v.6) However, he realizes he should not let them make him angry and steal his joy. Therefore, he is concentrating on the Lord and on not being angry. He is continuing to meditate on the Lord. Do you allow other people to steal your joy? Please, don't let that happen. Keep your focus on Him, and let Him fill you with His joy.
Psalm 5 Tells us that David saw his enemies trying to destroy him. (v.9) He heard their lies, and he was asking God to protect him and to give him joy. How did he seek the Lord? He sought the Lord in prayer in the morning. (v.3) He sought to worship the Lord regularly. (v.7) He continued to look for God's way before him. (v.8) As long as he was walking on God's path, he knew he would be safe from his enemies.
Psalm 6 has a similar theme, but it concludes with an assurance that God had heard his prayers. David knew that all would be well. Do you have that assurance? Are you living in fear of others? Are you living in frustration or in peace? Do you know that God hears your prayers, and He will do the right thing? God does not want any of His children to live in fear but in peace. Take your cares to Him, and He will flood your life with His peace. Don't keep your eyes on what other people are doing, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
In Acts 17 Paul goes to Athens, and he is frustrated with the people there. They are all worshiping idols. This provoked Paul's spirit. He was distressed that such a great city was given over to idolatry. He took action to reason with them and to show them the truth. I like his way of explaining truth to them. He used a quote from their own poets. (v.28) They knew that people were created by God. If that is true, how could God be silver and gold? God would need to be a living being like us. Isn't that a great way to explain it? However, in the end only a few were saved. Did that cause Paul to be depressed? Did he continue to be frustrated? No. He went on knowing that he needed to follow the Lord's path and tell others about Jesus. He did not let the idol worshipers steal his joy.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 7-9 and Acts 18.
In Psalm 4 is crying out to the Lord, because all around him are people who love worthlessness and seek falsehood. (v.2) He wants them to see that God will not bless them in this kind of attitude. He does not want them to be cynical about the goodness of God and the good things of life. (v.6) However, he realizes he should not let them make him angry and steal his joy. Therefore, he is concentrating on the Lord and on not being angry. He is continuing to meditate on the Lord. Do you allow other people to steal your joy? Please, don't let that happen. Keep your focus on Him, and let Him fill you with His joy.
Psalm 5 Tells us that David saw his enemies trying to destroy him. (v.9) He heard their lies, and he was asking God to protect him and to give him joy. How did he seek the Lord? He sought the Lord in prayer in the morning. (v.3) He sought to worship the Lord regularly. (v.7) He continued to look for God's way before him. (v.8) As long as he was walking on God's path, he knew he would be safe from his enemies.
Psalm 6 has a similar theme, but it concludes with an assurance that God had heard his prayers. David knew that all would be well. Do you have that assurance? Are you living in fear of others? Are you living in frustration or in peace? Do you know that God hears your prayers, and He will do the right thing? God does not want any of His children to live in fear but in peace. Take your cares to Him, and He will flood your life with His peace. Don't keep your eyes on what other people are doing, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
In Acts 17 Paul goes to Athens, and he is frustrated with the people there. They are all worshiping idols. This provoked Paul's spirit. He was distressed that such a great city was given over to idolatry. He took action to reason with them and to show them the truth. I like his way of explaining truth to them. He used a quote from their own poets. (v.28) They knew that people were created by God. If that is true, how could God be silver and gold? God would need to be a living being like us. Isn't that a great way to explain it? However, in the end only a few were saved. Did that cause Paul to be depressed? Did he continue to be frustrated? No. He went on knowing that he needed to follow the Lord's path and tell others about Jesus. He did not let the idol worshipers steal his joy.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 7-9 and Acts 18.