Take Each Day From His Hand

I am tired after dreaming what seemed like all night.  In scene after scene I was struggling through frustrating circumstances.  In one I was attempting to lead a worship service where musicians doing their own thing and the people in the congregation were conversing with each other loudly. In another I was trying to make my way through a forest where thorns tore at my clothing and vines tripped me.  So, were my dreams just the result of my brain sorting through the information and emotions of yesterday? Or, was God speaking to me to remind me of my utter dependence on Him?  Perhaps both are true.

The Psalmist reminds us to seek God first. "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Psalm 127:1-2, NIV)  Christians can enjoy security and productivity when they learn to live centered in God’s purpose and providence.  It is simple to write, but oh so difficult in practice. Our natural bent is to assume control when life is good.  Jesus’ invitation to seek first the Kingdom slips from our minds when life is humming along.  At the other extreme, we may turn foolishly on the Lord when hard times come, refusing to pray like a pouting child refuses to accept the comfort of her mother.

There is a blessed kind of rest for God’s children that is found in taking each day from His hand! We can learn to accept both good seasons and bad ones as well with thankfulness knowing that we live under His watchful care.  That is not to say that we become content to drift along, trusting fate.  God gives us the privilege of choice. He gifts us with intelligence.  He teaches us about the law of harvest – that the seeds we sow today bear fruit tomorrow.  That is why we must engage with life, working at making beautiful things and defeating sin in ourselves and in the world in which we walk.  But, we need not do so with anxiety and frustration. Why? Because surrounding those things is the assurance of His powerful care and His promise to make His purpose prevail.

Genesis tells us the story of the Curse of sin. In stark language we learn that our best efforts will be frustrated by weeds and suffering.  Who can read the Lord’s word to Adam without feeling the weight of His judgment? “Cursed is the ground because of you;  through painful toil you will eat of it  all the days of your life.  It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.  By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Gen. 3:17)  But, we need not live in that place or under that condemnation! 

Christ came to reverse the Curse. Yes, in Adam all die, but in Christ all are made alive. "What a difference between our sin and God’s generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God’s bountiful gift. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God’s wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:15-17, NLT)  Through faith in Him, we enter the Kingdom of the beloved.  It is a Kingdom not yet fully revealed. We still deal with death and disease, but not in despair. Instead, we trust, wait, and receive grace to endure until the full Kingdom comes.

Here’s the word from the Word for those of us who are working through frustrations. Own the promise with me today.

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? (Even the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.
Death can’t, and life can’t.
The angels can’t, and the demons can’t.
Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.
Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39, NLT)

_______________

10,000 Reasons

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

Worship His holy name!

Sing like never before,

O my soul,

I'll worship Your holy name.

The sun comes up,
it's a new day dawning.

It's time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes.

You're rich in love and You're SLOW to anger,

Your name is great and Your heart is kind.

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing,

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find!

And on that day when my strength is failing,

The end draws near and my time has come.

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending,

Ten thousand years and then forevermore.

CCLI Song # 6016351

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

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