TOO OFTEN we rely on humans to make things right, and TRUTH IS, that can be as dangerous as complacency! NO! We RELY ON THE LORD, for ONLY HE HAS THE POWER to lead us through, and, whole!!!
PSALM 146: 3; PSALM 60: 11; PSALM 118: 8; ISAIAH 2: 22; ISAIAH 36: 6; JEREMIAH 17: 5; each reference NOT putting trust in humans, INSTEAD IN THE LORD *GOD*; CHRIST JESUS! No matter how strong, how lauded, how powerful, how resourceful a person might be, they are human, fallible, and faulty, and just might lead one wrongly, or into worse circumstances than they already endure. WITH *GOD* there IS TRUTH, FAITHFULNESS, and ABSOLUTE POWER, which will ever lead us aright...
Put not your trust in princes - Rely on God rather than on man, however exalted he may be. There is a work of protection and salvation which no man, however exalted he may be, can perform for you; a work which God alone, who is the Maker of all things, and who never dies, can accomplish. An exhortation to praise God, who, by the gracious and faithful exercise of His power in goodness to the needy, is alone worthy of implicit trust.
In princes; in men of greatest wealth and power, in whose favour men are very prone to trust. In whom there is no help; who are utterly unable frequently to give you that help which they promise, and you expect. Put not your trust in princes,.... Not in foreign princes, in alliances and confederacies with them; nor in any at home. David did not desire his people to put their trust in him, nor in his nobles and courtiers; but in the Lord Christ, who, as he is the object of praise, is also the proper object of trust. Princes, though ever so liberal and bountiful, as their name signifies, and therefore called benefactors, Luke 22:25 or ever so mighty and powerful, wise and prudent, yet are not to be depended upon; they are changeable, fickle, and inconstant; and oftentimes not faithful to their word, but fallacious and deceitful; "men of high degree are a lie"...
ALL people have the same proneness to falter, sway, and otherwise let others, and themselves down, just as ALL have the same option to stand strong, firm, and LIFT UP others, and themselves; in other words, we change from situation to situation, and mood to mood, BUT *GOD* IS THE SAME NOW, and FOREVER, and HIS PROMISES ARE TRIED, TESTED, SURE, and PROVEN! HE IS our FATHER, and DOES protect, guide, and watch over HIS own! Of course, HIS favour rests on those whom are FAITHFUL UNTO HIM, for the most part, but HE DOES rescue those whom HE WILL, for often, it GLORIFIES HIM, and FURTHERS HIS PLAN, and TURNS TO HIM, those who might not have otherwise...
Also, NEVER forget, the evil ruler of this world is as the 'Pied Piper', and MANY HAVE unknowingly fallen into his deceptive line to the slippery slope, ESPECIALLY in times of woe, sorrow, fear, and contention, THEREFORE, all the more reason to TRUTH *GOD* SOLELY, and WHOLLY, albeit, working with others TO fulfill HIS WILL...
We rely on ourselves over THE LORD as well; frequently, this is without thought; it is simply, a reflex action from having been raised in such a mindset, into which timing also plays! We imagine if we act, or react quickly, we will soon, be back on course. A billion times it has been shown to be in vain that we depend on the self, and/or others, instead of HIM...
There are many turning their backs on THE LORD *GOD*, yet, those whom KNOW HIM, LOVE HIM, and have given their hearts to HIM remain significant. Our work is to SHINE OF HIM, and to exist IN HIS WILL THAT those lost in the darkness NOTICE HIM, seek HIM, find HIM, and FOLLOW HIM! HIS FAITHFULNESS SPEAKS for itself as HE works IN us, THROUGH us, and all AROUND us! The non-believers demand proof, but they wouldn't accept it if it slapped them in the face, as HE HAS been HERE, and NEAR, all along!!!
It is needless or useless to ask about the particular time of Christ's coming. Christ did not reveal this to the apostles. There are times and seasons for us to work in, and these are our duty and interest to know and observe; but as to the time when we must give up our account, we know it not, nor is it needful that we should.
The coming of Christ will be a great surprise to men. Our Lord himself said so. As the hour of death is the same to each person that the judgment will be to mankind in general, so the same remarks answer for both. Christ's coming will be terrible to the ungodly. Their destruction will overtake them while they dream of happiness, and please themselves with vain amusements. There will be no means to escape the terror or the punishment of that day.
This day will be a happy day to the righteous. They are not in darkness; they are the children of the light. It is the happy condition of all true Christians. But how many are speaking peace and safety to themselves, over whose heads utter destruction is hovering! Let us endeavour to awaken ourselves and each other, and guard against our spiritual enemies.
NO ONE will be able to save us, now, or ever, EXCEPT THE LORD *GOD*, and indications reveal that more would want to take us down rather than aid us, or attempt to save us anyway, as evil, wickedness, and hatred increases! CHRIST JESUS told us to FOLLOW HIM; this IS for our protection, now, and later; it IS for our good; it is for our focus ON HIM whom WILL lead us through to eternal LIFE! Thus, our RELIANCE IS ON HIM through it all!!!
EVERYWHERE on this planet there is dissension, hostility, natural disaster, hunger, homelessness, poverty, suffering, agony, and on it goes, thus, we have shown ourselves to be careless, unreliable, lacking LOVE, compassion, and other virtues which NECESSITATE wholesomeness, and growth! We have shown ourselves to be backsliding, NOT advancing, REGARDLESS of advancements created by minds, and hands! Be HONEST in assessment of our current state, and KNOW it IS futile to rely on anyone EXCEPT THE LORD!!!
MICAH 7: 11-7...
1+++Woe is me! For I am
Like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers.
There is not a cluster of grapes to eat,
Or a first-ripe fig which I crave.
2+++The godly person has perished from the land,
And there is no upright person among men.
All of them lie in wait for bloodshed;
Each of them hunts the other with a net.
3+++Concerning evil, both hands do it well.
The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,
And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;
So they weave it together.
4+++The best of them is like a briar,
The most upright like a thorn hedge.
The day when you post your watchmen,
Your punishment will come.
Then their confusion will occur.
5+++Do not trust in a neighbor;
Do not have confidence in a friend.
From her who lies in your bosom
Guard your lips.
6+++For son treats father contemptuously,
Daughter rises up against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
7+++But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.
Times have advanced, but HOW have people? The SAME old song and dance all these generations later! Only thing that HAS advanced IS the pride of the masses, and the evil of the world, BOTH ENMITY TO THE LORD *GOD*, and to one another! Let us CONSIDER TRUTH, and ACKNOWLEDGE our imperfection which NEEDS A SAVIOUR, whose name is CHRIST JESUS, THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY!!!
LWINSOR © 2020
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment