Defined by Belief

          The Old Testament is filled with the wonder and the awesomeness of God.  In Psalm 78:1-31, the psalmist highlights some incredible moments in the history of Israel.  Yet, during this wonderful display of God’s power, there is a discouraging response from the children of Israel.   In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. (Psalm 78:32).  However, even today we find the same disappointing response to the evidence of God’s power, holiness, and grace.  All around us is the insurmountable evidence of God’s work.  Remember the psalmist who said that the heaven declares God’s handiwork?  There is even evidence among people who have experienced the life changing Gospel and have been transformed by it.  As a pastor I have simply been in awe of how lives have been drastically turned around when they have experienced God’s grace personally.  Yet, despite the continued evidence…there are those who continue in their life of sin…their unbelief.  What we really believe defines how we live our lives.  In verses 31-55, we read the tragic tale of unbelief.  Instead of being faithful to God and to the covenant, they continued their acts of transgression.  However, we must not miss one encouraging factor in these tragic verses.  It can be easily missed amid these disappointing circumstances: “Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath” (Psalm 78:38).  Yes, God still gave them a chance.  Then it gets discouraging again.  They continued to test God over and over and over.  He remained faithful.  After a few days of encouragement, why this seemingly disappointing psalm?  It serves as a reminder that if we truly believe God is what the Scriptures reveal about Him and we focus on the insurmountable evidence of God’s power, that belief must change the way we think and act.

______________________________

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

 Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

 Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

 Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

 Great is Thy faithfulness!

 Morning by morning new mercies I see.

 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

 Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

______________________________

Late one night a burglar broke into a house and while he was sneaking around he heard a voice say, "Jesus is watching you."

He looked around and saw nothing. He kept on creeping and again heard, "Jesus is watching you."

In a dark corner, he saw a cage with a parrot inside. The burglar asked the parrot, "Was it you who said Jesus is watching me?"

The parrot replied, "Yes."

Relieved, the burglar asked, "What is your name?"

The parrot said, "Clarence."

The burglar said, "That's a stupid name for a parrot. What idiot named you Clarence?"

The parrot answered, "The same idiot that named the Rottweiler, Jesus."