MEAT FOR MATURITY – DISCIPLESHIP

“But the meek shall inherit the landand delight themselves in abundant peace.” Psalms 37:11 (ESV)Earlier in this Psalm, the psalmist was encouraging readers not to fret over wrongdoers because they “will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (v. 2). Instead, if we are patient, God will bless the righteous. It is not the violent or selfish who will eventually inherit the earth, but rather the meek, those who “trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness” (v. 3). This reminds us of Jesus’ words “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:4, ESV). He was saying that when God’s kingdom is fulfilled, the peaceful ones who followed God will rule over the earth; this is the promise of the kingdom of God. Thus, the promise of this Psalm will be fulfilled. We do not need Continue Reading →

“He will bring forth your righteousness as the lightAnd your judgment as the noonday.” Psalms 37:6 (NASB)Our faithfulness to God and his way of virtue often goes unrewarded. At work we may swim against the current and choose honesty and integrity. We might go out of our way to do something extra for someone or help them in their work. We hope that the truth will be known, but if our fellow workers are not followers of God, we might be ignored or even pushed out to the margins. In general, our righteous actions may not be recognized because of the selfishness, resentment, or suspiciousness of others. Humans are naturally self-centered, so we need to accept this with grace. Some people will be oppositional just because you are a Christian. But God promises that one day, probably not until the next age (though the Psalmist probably wasn’t thinking about that), Continue Reading →

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 (ESV)This promise may seem like an overstatement, but I think that it is eventually true for those who delight themselves in the Lord. If we keep our hearts rejoicing in God in Christ, and what he has done for us and the blessing of following him, then he will fulfill our desires sooner or later. Remember that the kingdom of God is already here but not yet complete. This means that most of God’s blessings are here in part but not yet completely fulfilled. Therefore, my desire for complete inner peace and joy is only partly fulfilled now, but will be completely fulfilled on the New Earth. My prayers for financial stability are only partly fulfilled now, but I will be completely secure and prosperous in the next age. He may not fulfill Continue Reading →