Sunday, February 4, 2018

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene's The Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Wednesday 24 January 2018 "No Comparison! by Billy Huddleston

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene's The Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Wednesday 24 January 2018 "No Comparison! by Billy Huddleston
Psalm 73:18 Indeed, you place them on a slippery slope
and make them fall to their ruin.
19 How suddenly they are destroyed,
swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakens;
Adonai, when you rouse yourself,
you will despise their phantoms.
21 When I had a sour attitude
and felt stung by pained emotions,
22 I was too stupid to understand;
I was like a brute beast with you.
23 Nevertheless, I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your advice;
and afterwards, you will receive me with honor.
25 Whom do I have in heaven but you?
And with you, I lack nothing on earth.
26 My mind and body may fail; but God
is the rock for my mind and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who adulterously leave you.
28 But for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made Adonai Elohim my refuge,
so that I can tell of all your works.
***
There’s no greater realization than God is enough. Outside of that understanding, one will never find true satisfaction. However, once realized, it is far more valuable than anything the world can offer.
Asaph (Psalm 73) had allowed himself to become distracted by the prosperity of the wicked people of his day. He questioned why they seemed to have more than they needed while God’s people only seemed to struggle. They were strong, powerful, wealthy, and arrogant. In the world’s economy, their good fortune seemed to have no limit. However, God’s economy is different–there is no comparison!
Only when Asaph regained this perspective was he freed from the comparison game, a game that can’t be won. Before, he was allowing others to define his worth rather than embracing who God created him to be. It was when he settled within himself that God was the singular desire of his life that he discovered true, lasting satisfaction.
It's easy to become distracted by things that seem to be important.  But remember: God's people are not of this world. They live by a different standard. So, when invited to play the comparison game, refuse the invitation. There's no comparison!
Hymn for Today: "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" by Anonymous
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
no turning back, no turning back.
2. Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.
3. The world behind me, the cross before me;
the world behind me, the cross before me;
the world behind me, the cross before me;
no turning back, no turning back.
Thought for Today: know today, and establish it in your heart, that Adonai is God in heaven above and on earth below — there is no other.(Deuteronomy 4:39)
Please pray: That many people in Pakistan will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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