The Brevity of Me | Psalm 90
God is eternal and immutable. We are small and temporary. Our lives are merely a moment – a vapor that appears for a little while and vanishes. Allowing this truth to sink in will bring perspective and sharpen your focus on how to live, right now, right where you are today! Open your Bible to Psalm 90 for The Brevity of Me.
There appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah.” Luke 1:11–13, esv
Every time in Scripture when God’s presence is revealed, the person to whom it’s revealed feels fear. And then the messenger, or more often the Lord Himself, says, “Do not be afraid.”
It’s like, for example, when Jesus revealed Himself to His first disciples by causing a miraculous catch of fish. Peter said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8), but Jesus said to him, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10).
Or in Revelation, when He revealed Himself to the apostle John, who said, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last’” (Revelation 1:17).
I think the angels must have been watching Him, because when they appear at various points in the Bible, and the person doesn’t know what to do with their scared, startled emotions, the angels always do what Jesus did.
Don’t be afraid, they say. What a comforting word.
Have you experienced the comforting presence of the Lord in your life? If you’ve been sad and someone’s given you happiness, that’s comfort. If you’ve been confused and someone’s given you wisdom, that’s comfort. If you’ve been fearful and someone’s said to you, “Don’t be afraid”—that’s comforting, isn’t it? “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). The Lord comforts His children.
He always has.
One of the classic books on the Christian bookshelf was written in the 1870s by Hannah Whitall Smith, a 43-year-old housewife at the time. It’s called The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, but don’t let the title fool you. It’s not a light, cheesy, be-happy, self-help, pop psychology kind of thing. This woman lost a preborn child. She lost a daughter to bronchial pneumonia. Her grown son, while a sophomore at Princeton University, died of typhoid fever, leaving her broken-hearted. Her husband had emotional problems, was in and out of sanatoriums, bankrupted the family’s wealth, and then—just when things started to go better—was caught in multiple marital infidelities.
But out of these dark places, she wrote of God’s comforting nearness. They weren’t insights learned on a mountain. They were realities experienced in the valley, where His comfort is actually felt the greatest.
I’ve gone through some deep valleys in my day, and, as a pastor, I get to go through some deep valleys with other people, too. I’m not generally the person they call to say their kid is doing great in baseball. My phone rings most often when the heartache comes. But as a result—like almost every pastor—I’ve gotten a front row seat to God’s comfort. I’ve seen people experience the reality of His presence.
Know this: God is awesome in the comfort category.
If you’re going through difficult circumstances, there’s a way. If you’re in the middle of the darkest night, He gives peace and assurance and a confidence from His Spirit that can’t be explained.
Don’t be afraid. The Lord is near. Be comforted.
Journal
Pray
Lord, You know my distresses and the pains of my heart. You know where I’m needful of Your comfort. Thank You that You always provide comfort at exactly the right time and in exactly the right way. Thank You for the precious truth that, “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). So I won’t be afraid, because You will give me everything my soul requires. And out of Your comfort, You will give me an overflow to share with others. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young Isaiah 40:10–11 esv
Have you ever given much thought to God’s arms? (“God has arms?” you might be wondering.) When God describes His arms, He doesn’t tell us their circumference or how much He can lift—those are human, physical terms, like the jock showing off at the gym. But God’s description of His arms tells us some awesome things about Him. In fact, the dual description of God’s arms in this passage shows us His power and His comfort.
“Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him.” When the Bible talks about God’s right arm, it refers to His powerful, ruling arm—His justice, His holiness, and His strength. God is like that. He is all that and more.
But then the very next verse describes His tender shepherd arm. “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” If you’ve spent any time in church, sadly you’ve probably heard one extreme or the other: a ton of preaching about the transcendent, holy, awesome Judge or a ton of preaching about the tender, loving, merciful Shepherd. But He’s both, right? In this passage we clearly see both. Don’t let God’s nearness minimize His transcendence nor let His transcendence make you think He isn’t very aware of you individually.
Imagine a shepherd in the fields, and this gives you a picture of God. A shepherd can oversee hundreds of sheep, but he holds only one at a time. He gathers the lambs one by one in his arms. The point here is that this awesome God cares for you. Personally. Individually. Yes, He’s guarding a big flock, but when He cares for the lambs, He tends to them one by one. This is God’s love for you. Personal. Individual. Attentive. Aware. Devoted. That’s how He cares for you.
When He carries His lambs, He holds them “in his bosom.” Picture that. He doesn’t hold us awkwardly squirming at arms’ length. No, He draws us close, right to His own heart.
And He will “gently lead those that are with young.” The sheep that is about to give birth is vulnerable, with unique needs. And the shepherd accommodates those needs. In the same way, when our needs are great, the Lord is that much more attentive to us. Some of us are at a point of acute need right now in our business or in our family. God knows what it is. And just as pressing as that need is, His attention matches that. He’s on it! He is right there, gently leading those whose circumstances demand additional care.
So which one is He – mighty or tender? Yes. His arm is a picture of absolute power and unconditional love.
That’s your King. That’s your Shepherd.
Journal
Pray
As I behold You, my Lord God, I am in awe of who You are. You are the King. You rule the universe with Your feet up. Absolute power. You are also my Shepherd. You lovingly hold me close and tend to my heart. Absolute love. Open my eyes that I may see You more clearly, and stir in me fresh worship and love for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
The Eternality of God
Psalm 90
Our finite minds often struggle to grasp the truths about God. He is greater, more powerful, and more present than we can comprehend. The God of the universe is infinite and eternal.
That’s why we must anchor ourselves in the Scriptures—and I’m glad we can do that together today. So open your Bibles to Psalm 90 and join us as we explore The Eternality of God!
Finding God in a Crisis – Remember His Presence, Peace, Power
Psalm 46
It’s time for a psalm of calm.
Even in a world of tumult, the real battle is within: How can you calm your heart when inside you’re a raging storm?
Life’s hardest moments call for more than a quick fix. Turn with me to Psalm 46, as we seek the power of God’s presence.
What to Do in the Darkest Valley | Psalm 23
While Psalm 23 has become our familiar comfort and provision, this week is an “in case of emergency, break glass,” don’t-miss message. For a time of tragedy or trial, now or in the future, learn today “What to Do in the Darkest Valley.” You are not alone! You have nothing to fear, you are safe and secure in Savior’s love.
He Restores My Soul
Psalm 23
I like to think of Psalm 23 as a psalm of healing. Just consider God’s comfort and nearness when “He makes [you] lie down in green pastures.”
This message was preached to our men in sobriety at Rock Bottom, but also with you in mind. Thank you for standing with us and supporting how the Lord is transforming lives here.
I pray you that too experience His healing nearness, as we open His Word together…
How To Stay Connected to God (Part 1)
Psalm 23
Ready for a fresh infusion of spiritual life? James MacDonald’s new series in the Psalms, How to Stay Connected to God, will meet you where you are.
We’re excited to share the first message with you, in the familiar and foundational Psalm 23. Come and lean on the Lord your Shepherd.
New Power for the Distracted | John 21:20-26
Have you gotten distracted? If you were honest…
How often are you preoccupied with temporal things? Do you measure your life against other people’s choices, or in light of God’s Word and His will for you?
Following Jesus Christ is a deeply personal decision. You won’t answer to the Lord for anyone else – and no one else will answer for you. Time to bring your focus back to what (and Who) matters most!
New Power for the Divided
John 21:15-19
Indecision can be deadly. As the Prophet Elijah challenged, “How long will you waver between two opinions” (I Kings 18:21)? In the New Testament, James wrote that “a double-minded man [is] unstable in all his ways” (1:8).
If you think the Lord is standing over your struggle with judgment or condemnation, you don’t truly know the God we serve.
Jesus Christ brings new power to divided hearts that yield to Him. Let’s find the key to move ourselves from indecision to total surrender…