PSALM 73:25 – Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”
THEME OF THE DAY: WOULD WE BE ABLE? The author of today’s scripture was a man named Asaph. Spend time soon and read his Psalm. It is emotionally deep and quite instructional for us. As the Psalms are “the window to the human soul”, we will find ourselves in this Psalm, and hopefully able to say with clarity, simplicity, and sincerity what Asaph said in today’s verse.
Think about what he says. It is profound, and it is highly probable a lot of Christians will not be able to quote him as describing their own experiences with the Lord. Oh, the words are not hard to say, but the question is “Do our lives give evidence that our words are true?” Sadly, too much of the world has influenced the church. There is a reason why we see no revivals, great awakenings, or visitations of the Lord bringing life to His people and church that is influencing our culture. And the reason is because we cannot say the words of Asaph with sincerity.
Let’s ask an uncomfortable question based on the healthy marks of a good church as defined by the early church in the book of Acts to see if we are in the majority of Christians who could not say today’s scripture defines their walks with the Lord – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).
The question – “Are we Christians devoted to being God’s church consistently and sacrificially putting ourselves under the Apostles’ teaching, fellowshipping, observing the Lord’s Supper and hospitality, and praying with God’s people?” If not, why not? And please, don’t go easy on us. This is too important. God demands and expects us to be His church and we way too easily make excuses and justify not being so. Don’t do it. God doesn’t. To be the church as God would have us, we must love the Head of the church without competition or compromise.
Back to Asaph. This is a fellow sinner saved by the same grace as us proclaiming to the Lord that there is no pleasure, pursuit, goal, desire, hobby, person, relationship, or anything else in his life that holds a higher place in his affections than God. Beloved, when we allow any pleasure, pursuit, goal, desire, hobby, person, relationship, or anything else be above or in competition with our love for God and His Word, it is idolatry. So, one more time. Read today’s scripture. Would we be able to say it describes us? If not, let’s make the changes in our lives so we may.
PRAYER: “Father, may the power of Your love remove anything or anyone that competes for my love to You.”
QUOTE: “To allow anything or anyone in life to be above or in competition with our love for God and His Word is idolatry.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim