Love & Faithfulness
BRD REFLECTIONS
Galatians 2 and Psalm 92 (NIV)
(Paul Gwee, Associate Lay Leader)
READ:
Psalm 92 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
The psalmist began the morning by proclaiming the Love of God. He ended the night with another proclamation of His Faithfulness. All done through music and melodies.
He had seen God’s Love through the deeds and great works of His hands. There was a great sense of thankfulness, joy and awe of the Lord, God. He also acknowledged that God’s Word (His thoughts) were profound – all wise – omniscient.
Without God’s Word, one is senseless and like fools without understanding. Why? The thought that evildoers and wickedness may flourish was met with the psalmist’s certainty in God that they be eternally destroyed. The word “surely” was mentioned twice in verse 9, in this regard. In contrast, the Lord’s righteous will be exalted in strength and valued. This was confirmed by what his eyes and ears had seen and heard in the defeat and rout of the enemies.
The Lord’s righteous was pictured as a palm tree and cedar of Lebanon. What was more critical here: they thrived in the presence of the Lord, not elsewhere nor on something else. This had provided the foundation to sustain the bearing of fruit even in old age and their remaining fresh and evergreen.
He concluded with the affirmative proclamation, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock and there is no wickedness in Him”. Indeed, Alleluia!
APPLY:
Begin the morning by honouring and proclaiming God’s Love over me. It is by His Love that I could sleep daily and arise in the morning to a new day. Without His Love and Word, I will be without purpose, hope and understanding. His Love has given me not only physical life but much more the eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son, through whom I have the personal loving relationship with Abba, Father.
During the day, focus on God’s Word and on how He has faithfully given victory after victory to his people rather than be distracted by how wickedness and evildoers seemingly flourish around me. Fill my thoughts with what His great deeds have blessed us with as well as His blessings in my own life, like my health. Through God’s recent early intervention, I was delivered from further unfavourable thyroid issues. Another focus is to dwell in His presence for nourishment of my heart, soul and thoughts. This is the critical ingredient for me to still bear fruit for Him as well as remain fresh and evergreen for His service in my old age.
End the night proclaiming God’s faithfulness. Indeed, living through each day’s challenges is only by His strength, blessings and grace. This would be impossible without His faithfulness. He is indeed a Faithful God.
DO:
Acknowledge and meditate daily on His Love and Faithfulness at the start and close of the day, respectively, no matter how busy I am. Use the discipline of examen to deepen and be refreshed as well as evergreen in my personal relationship with Him to still bear fruit even in my old age.
Soak in and meditate on God’s Word to repel the daily distractions and challenges of the world. Take captive my every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 5:10).
Testify of His victories in my life that others can also be encouraged in the Lord’s Love and Faithfulness.
PRAY:
Thank you, Father God, for your lovingkindness and faithfulness over me and my family. Help me, O Holy Spirit, to testify and bless others so that they will know also of your love and faithfulness. In Jesus’ victorious name. Amen.
