Thursday, December 8

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 201

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

   the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

   the guards stand watch in vain."  (Psalm 127:1)

"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen." (Jude 24,25)

These two passages, juxtaposed in today's readings, spoke to me about the preeminence of God's intervention on our behalf.  From the private to the public, if we do not engage with God, we "labor," contend, and struggle in vain.

I wrestle constantly with self-sufficiency, wanting to figure out and tick off problems on my own.  God created me as a someone who loves to research solutions and implement them.  Yet, leveraging these God-placed passions can cause me to go awry, considering only "horizontal" solutions, edging into pride, or succumbing to worry or fear.  

I believe that the antidote to this challenge lies in giving each day and each task into the Lord's hands, dedicating them to Him and seeking His best for them.  George Mueller, who directed a series of orphanages and schools in 19th-century England, illustrated these committedness to God by trusting God for His resources.  He never requested funding for the projects, convinced that God would bring the funds and opportunities to bless others.  Two quotes from Mueller below indicate his trust in God's awesome provisions:

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”

“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.”

Along with Jude's instruction, we rest in God's strength for today and for eternity.  Today, God allows our faith to grow so that we may be better-prepared to bring honor and glory to Him forever.  What a great privilege to invest our lives today and always in His service.

Lord God, thank You for rescuing us from ourselves.  Thank You for pointing out our pride and self-sufficiency.  Thank You for reminding us of our smallness and Your awesome power.  Help us to trust You more deeply and to follow You today.  Bring us closer to You in this Advent season.  Give us opportunities to introduce others to Your Presence.  We love You and worship You today.  In Jesus's Name, amen.