The Prodigal Son thought less of his father and more for himself. I feel like that was the root of his insistence of going away with his inheritance.
The Wicked Servant did not trust his master and hid the coin entrusted to him.
Our perception and opinion on God impacts our decisions… and all decisions have their consequences.
Hence, the importance of knowing God as our Father. Knowing the Father entails knowing you’re a son, and knowing how you are a son impacts your decisions… and, again, all decisions have their effects.
The servant’s works may be well-intentioned and/or excellent, but they are ultimately filthy rags before the Lord.
The Son is beloved, and the Father is well pleased with Him.
For the servant as much as the son, God is faithful to work all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Psalm 30
The Blessedness of Answered Prayer
A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.
1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.
3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Give thanks to the Lord. He is good. He has done good things, and He is faithful to finish the work He has begun in us. Oh, Jesus, in our reflecting on Your Word, may we continue to be renewed, and may we continue to be transformed. According to Your Word, may we continue to be established and planted by rivers of living water, as we continue to reflect on Your Word, and as we continue to behold You.
Indeed, we place our trust and hope in You, Jesus, giving thanks for You not only minister to us from the inside out, but You also work in and though all outside, all that concerns us. I take in Your Word, I take in Your goodness and glory, and I believe all things good shall happen – Amen, and amen.
Through Your finished work, I have reason to believe that You have lifted me up and established me, but You also continue to do so in my life. It has been done, and You continue to do it! Thank You, Lord, for as it says in another part of Scripture, no weapon formed against me shall prosper, no curses said against us would come to pass, and, apparently, You will also not allow those who call themselves our enemies, foes and adversaries to rejoice over us.
You hear us and listen to us when we call, God; We cry out to You as we call out to our Father, and You are willing and able to heal us… and, praise Your name, You have healed us in the past, and You heal us now!
Yes, Jesus, thank You; For not only do You heal me and my family of physical afflictions, but You also provide Shalom, and complete restoration to us – That is, You bring complete and absolute restoration and healing to our minds and souls as much as our physical bodies. You not only deliver us from making the wrong decisions brought about by the flesh and its lusts – By the meditation of Your Word, and by our beholding in You, You also bring forth healing for all the darkness and filth we threw ourselves into before we knew any better.
And Jesus, thank You – for as You walked out of the grave, so You draw us out of the pits, and You give us Life; Yes, because You gave Yourself to us, and because You are the Life, so we are alive, here and now, rejoicing of Your goodness, glory, grace and greatness in this flawed and broken world. Thank You, thank You so much, Lord!
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Yes, as we continue down the Psalm, we could not help but to give praise, and to lead others to sing praises to Him! We praise Him in the congregation, and we are corporately blessed as all of us behold His word, and sing of glory and honor to His name!
Surely as He walks us through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us as we endure the darkness of night; In love He rebukes us, but it is all because He favors us; In love He joins us in the darkness, assuring us of the new day, assuring us of joy that comes, and that His perfect love casts our fear.
Oh, thank You, Father, for even now, by the power of Your Spirit, I am being renewed, ever so surely, in all aspects. In the reflection of Your Word, we are restored, redirected, renewed, reminded – thank You, Jesus!
6 Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”
7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
We do not tell anyone that this true Life we have in Christ guarantees a life of better circumstances according to our terms and expectations – We do tell ourselves and our congregations that no matter what does happen, whether it is ‘good’ or ‘bad’, (1) God is faithful to cause all things to work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, and (2) Nothing can ever separate us from His everlasting, perfect love that casts out all fear – all because of Jesus Christ and His finished work.
So, Father, thank You – for in our meditating on Your Word, we have no doubt that we are being ministered to in all aspects. And it could not be avoided that we remember Christ and His finished work – we remember, among all things, that we have been cleansed of all sin, that though our sin was crimson red, we have been made white as snow.
Indeed, we have been transformed, and are being transformed, here and now, by the blood of Christ – Thank You, thank You so much, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! To You be all glory and praise, now and forever, amen, amen!
There is nothing stronger
than the wonder working power of the blood, the blood
Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
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