Quotation: Psalms, 16:1-11
When I was on board an airplane to Okinawa, I found all cabin attendants put a small plate on their uniforms. There were words on it, "Safety is my duty." Then I thought, in case of Jesus, what He will say. He would say, "Safety is my delight, and earnest wish." He knows everything, and can do anything. So, if you rely on him, you are safe. He will lead and protect you. Once David prayed, Psalms, 16:1
Why? He found that unless the Lord protects me, I will be nothing. His pray was his cry itself to call for help. There are other prays stored in the Holy Bible, Psalms, 86:2
Psalms, 86:11
He recognized his incapability, and found he can't keep His laws, even if he tries hard. One of the Lord's call, who never lies, nor breaks His promises, is that, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Thus we can say, Hebrews, 13:6
Paul experienced incredibly hard experience, just before his martyrdom. While he was in a prison, he wrote, 2 Timothy, 4:16
Actually, saved saints, once lead by him, ran away, just as disciples ran away from Jesus, when He was caught. Because they felt it's dangerous. I think Paul was unpleasant, but he wrote in his letter, 2 Timothy, 4:17-18
"I was thrown away, but the Lord will never forsake me". As a conclusion, he wrote, 2 Timothy, 4:18
Also, he testified in his famous letter to Romans. Romans, 8:35,37
Not only Paul, but also disciples confessed so. As for John, 1 John, 5:4
Paul wrote to Corinthians again, 2 Corinthians, 2:14
As a result, the Lord is the Lord. He is a leader and a ruler. Isaiah wrote too, Isaiah, 41:10
Only the Lord can protect us. David was confident about it. "The Lord can, but I can't, so I need Him." On the Verse 8 and 9 in Chapter 16 of Psalms, he confessed incredible things. Psalms, 16:8
"In any circumstances, I can stand like a stone, I am safe, there's no need to worry." Psalms, 16:9
Here, David used 3 words, a heart, a tongue, and a body. As a whole, they include all of a human. In the Holy Bible, some wrong ways to look are described. One of them is to look back. The past is no more a problem, the problems will be in the future. On the Verse 62 in Chapter 9 of Luke, Jesus told about it. Luke, 9:62
It is not written that he will not be saved, but written he will not be used, blessed by the Lord. If we can't be blessed, we will be awful. The Old Testament is written mainly for Jews. But, as Paul emphasized, what Israelites experienced are important for us too. For example, it describes a lot about the travel in the desert of Israel. They lived, and wondered as much as forty years in the desert. If they directly entered to Canaan, they would have arrived there in two or three weeks. Of course, they took their way according to the divine guidance. It had to be revealed whether their faith was genuine of not. He wanted to see if they rely on only Him, not watching themselves. As a result, Israelites were put away from His grace by watching the reality. They always looked back. Thus their faith was barren, unwinnable, unstable, lack of praising and thanks giving. The disciples constantly recommended, "We should live a forward-looking life with a single purpose." The second wrong way is to look around with uneasy eyes. Isaiah, 41:10
"Do not fear, for I protect you, I am with you." If so, there's no need to worry. In this translation(NIV), it is written "do not be dismayed", in the original book, it is written, "do not look around with uneasy eyes" The third wrong way is to look shortsightedly. Paul wrote to Corinthians about this. 2 Corinthians, 10:7
Thus they couldn't move forward. He may have worried about brothers and sisters in Corinth most. Of course they were guided and saved by Him. But, there was discordance and envy among them, and they were almost disorganized. But the most wonderful letters were written to them, the Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians is called the book of Love, and the chapter 15 of it is called the book of Resurrection. However, the reason why they couldn't live a forward-looking life is that they were looking only on the surface of things. Sometimes, we look at the trouble we are facing, only itself. Looking shortsightedly means the sight is narrowed. We may be totally confused by looking at things in front of us. If we give it up as hopeless, the Satan will earn the victory. The other wrong way to look is to look at our own pleasure. Paul wrote in Philippians, Philippians, 2:4
Looking to your own interests is a selfish way. What is our characteristics by nature? If something happens, we first care only about ourselves. "Is there any impact on me?" We may be relieved if there will be no harm on ourselves, and will forget it. For example, you may feel so sorry if a kid next door is killed in an auto accident. But, after all, it's their kid, not ours. If it were your own kid, you wouldn't be able to think about it. The Holy Bible tells we should worry with those who worry, we should suffer with those who suffer. It is the best way to tell the Gospel. If you just say, "The Holy Bible is something like that.... Jesus is, as you know, ..." they won't want to hear sermons. (Side A -> Side B) The Holy Bible tells a lot about wrong ways to look, the key to solve this problem is, as a whole, the world you can see is not so valuable. It is the most important for you to turn to Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In the Chapter 16 of Psalms, David said, Psalms, 16:8
always, not sometimes, Psalms, 16:8
Who is the Lord David relied on? Of course, He is forever, and a creator and a ruler of everything. If you cast all you have to Him, you will be definitely safe. John wrote about the Lord, Revelation, 1:8
Revelation, 22:13
He is forever. David has set the LORD always before him. If you look at yourself, or others, or circumstances, you will necessarily get involved and worry about it. It is very important to turn to the Lord. It is an only way to a salvation. He doesn't require you to study the Holy Bible, understand all of it, be wise...., but to turn to Jesus who sacrificed Himself for our selfishness. In John, Jesus talked about His Father's will, John, 6:40
actually, look to Me, John, 6:40
Those who look to Jesus, who was put to the cross, will be saved without question. There is a drawing of Jesus on the cross. It was drawn one hundred fifty to sixty years ago, but no one knows who draw it. At the bottom, it is written, "How I am is up to your sin. What are you going to do for me?" When a young German read it, he was overwhelmed by His love, and made up his mind to live only for Him. He was extraordinary blessed. Isaiah wrote, Isaiah, 45:22
"Turn to me and be saved," Jesus, who was put to the cross is one whom we have to turn to. Believing in Jesus is not only admitting the truth, but also having a close, live fellowship with Him, who is, and will be forever. We clearly know things change if we look them in other ways. What are you looking at? What are you interested in? Looking at yourself, or others, or circumstances will bring you a inferior complex, or arrogance, and bear nothing. Just turning to Jesus will lead you to a success. David plainly wrote, "I look at the Lord", in Psalms. Psalms, 16:8
always!, not twice a week... Psalms, 16:8
thus, Psalms, 16:9
The author of Hebrews wrote the same thing, Hebrews, 12:2-3
why? Hebrews, 12:3
If you want to be vigorous, filled with a REJOICE, turn to the Lord Jesus. |