Psalm 14 Sunday, 27 September 2020
“… For God is with the righteous generation.” -Psalm 14:5
The Psalm 14 addresses the issue of the folly of man’s wickedness. In the pursuit of leading a self-centred life, many people live their lives as if GOD does not exist! The Psalm begins with the statement ‘The fool has said in their heart “There is no God.”’ Their line of thinking is not based on any rationale - but on mere subjective preferences. Those who deny the existence of God do so because of their willful decision.
Romans 1: 21-22: “For even though they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculation, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” God’s existence is revealed through His creation as we read from Romans1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” For a person to believe in God, He has provided enough proof. Yet God does not compel people, but rather He has given a free will to every man to choose Him!!
Psalm 19:1 says “The heavens are telling the glory of God and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” The evidence seen from nature about the existence of God is not understood by all - it is hidden from the wise and the intellect, the rich and the powerful! But it is understood by the simple-minded and the righteous. Only with a simple child-like faith is one able to comprehend the existence and love of God.
Colossians 1:27 speaks of “… Christ in you, the hope of glory!”- the central theme of Colossians, written to people who were trying to reach for some mystical experiences and something far-fetching than what the Apostles had taught them. Paul was trying to reiterate that they needn’t go beyond what Christ offered—for in Christ “…dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him…” (Colossians 2:9-10).
A person is made righteous when he believes in Christ. At that time his old sinful nature is cut-off, being baptized with Christ and raised to a new life. Christ has cancelled the record of charges against every believer, having won the victory for him on the Cross. Since our focus should be Christ in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28),--how we respond to Him and live pleasing to Him are important factors which ensure that we live in the true fellowship with God – with such righteous people God ensures His presence - as the key verse says!
Let us therefore align our lives to:
Live through Him (1 John 4:9,10)-we can choose to DIRECT the course of our life in His purpose and plan so that He has the central place in our lives. We get to become “moulded” into His image when we live through Him!
Live for Him (2 Cor.5:15)- our lives become meaningful when we live for something purposeful! He who designed us for a special purpose can bring out something beautiful of the life He intended you and me to be. Just think of the joy of spending your life to bring a smile to the One who gave His very life for you, instead of pursuing your selfish ambitions!
Live with Him (1Thess.5:10)- It's living with Him on a day to day basis, enjoying His companionship and learning from Him and then living eternally with Him! As a man of God has beautifully put it- Enoch walked with God and one day, God took him home!
If you still haven’t given Him the first place, would you today? Accept Him as your Saviour and Lord and let Him teach you to Live through, for and with Him!
THINK ON: But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free. (1 Corinthians 1:30 GNT)