Under His Hand
Sunday, September 6, 2020 V.O.D.: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. M.O.M.: Psalm 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Today's reading: Proverbs 1-2 1 Corinthians 16
Under God's Hand
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Love does not hide. It is not afraid. Love is bold.
Where is love? 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Today, it appears as if hate is everywhere. The news is full of hate. Our country is divided and opposing sides show much hate and contempt for the other.
When you look up, do you look into the palm of God's hand? There is hope and deliverance in God's hand-but no hate for the souls on the other side. There is no hate...except where sin is the normal way of life.
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
It is hard to learn how maintain a positive attitude in this world when there is so much hate all around us. It is only possible with God.(Matthew 19:26) It is possible only with God. It is when we humble ourselves under His hand and place ourselves above no other person that our heart breaks for all the hate.
But we have to get to that place where hate has no place in our hearts. If there is hate in our hearts, there is no room for God-even a little.
It is time for all of us who call ourselves 'Christian' to get serious and take all the negatives about our enemies captive and get rid of judgement and hate and begin to love. It is time to humble ourselves under God's hand and love as He loves-without condition.
They hated Jesus and killed Him but He loved continually through it all-remember? "Father, forgive them..."
Truthfully, how many times have you heard lies in the media and prayed, "Father, forgive them" and really meant it in love? Or, how many times have you prayed, "Father, forgive them"?
We should love and pray, "Father, break satan's influence over their lives and let them see Your love in us".
Under God's hand and only under His hand will this happen. God offers shelter under His hand to all...and He knows that while we are humbling ourselves under His hand, our feet must walk on this earth-and He gives us more than we ever will need to walk in His righteousness.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven, Forgive me for not loving. I want to stay humble under Your hand and love the way You do. I want to learn from Your heart. Gracious and loving Father! In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen