Some biblical resolutions for 2014 from Psalm 115

Some biblical resolutions for 2014 from Psalm 115 December 31, 2013

I was directed in a personal email to read Psalm 115:1, and found myself keeping on reading. May this passage be a motto for us all as we enter 2014.  I see in this passage some resolutions we do well to make at the turn of this year.

a. A resolution to put God first and seek his glory

In an age of being encouraged to “build your platform” how about we determine that we will build God’s platform this next year. If you tweet, run a blog, or post to Facebook, determine that you will increase the number of times you link out to something someone else has written that brings glory to Jesus, and will help build his Church.  It’s not about you. It’s all about Jesus.   He is worth all our adulation and praise!  We will praise him all our days, and for all eternity. He will not leave us in the grave but give us eternal life which will make every torment in this World seem like a night in a bad hotel.

b. A resolution to hold firm to our faith despite the mocking of the nations

2014 will bring more opposition to God and his people. But, we still believe that God is not shaken up by this.  As I preached from Psalm 2, God is not insecure.   We will trust in him and worship him, whatever the World throws at us! He will revive his Church, and we are NOT on the back foot!

c. A resolution to dare to believe that God will bless us.

These verses couldn’t be clearer in the promises they offer.  He will help us. He is our shield. He has NOT forgotten us, and WILL BLESS US! He will bless us whether we are “small” or “great.”  We are meant to enter this year with confidence, hope, and he wants us to dare to ask that God will increase us and our children.  We must refuse let our reaction to the excesses of the Word of Faith movement rob us of true faith.  Spurgeon wrote “Checkbook of the bank of faith” so we needn’t fear taking ahold of God’s promises.

 

Psalm 115

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
O Israel,1 trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
May the Lord give you increase,
you and your children!
May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord


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