Thursday, April 24, 2008

The Problem, The Promise

Did you know that Costco and Sam's Clubs are now rationing rice purchases due to food shortages HERE in the United States? Ohh...how the mighty have fallen. There are food riots across the 3rd world nations, the World economy is set to go belly up any day now, we're looking at possible WW3 in the middle east any day now. These things will definitely be problems for some people.

But what has the Lord promised those who obey Him?

Do not fret because of evildoers,Be not envious toward wrongdoers. 2 For they will wither quickly like the grassAnd fade like the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good;Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD;And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD,Trust also in Him, and He will do it. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the lightAnd your judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off,But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. 11 But the humble will inherit the landAnd will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. 12 The wicked plots against the righteousAnd gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord laughs at him,For He sees his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bowTo cast down the afflicted and the needy,To slay those who are upright in conduct. 15 Their sword will enter their own heart,And their bows will be broken. 16 Better is the little of the righteousThan the abundance of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,But the LORD sustains the righteous. 18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless,And their inheritance will be forever. 19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,And in the days of famine they will have abundance. 20 But the wicked will perish;And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures,They vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back,But the righteous is gracious and gives. 22 For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,But those cursed by Him will be cut off. 23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,And He delights in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. 25 I have been young and now I am old,Yet I have not seen the righteous forsakenOr his descendants begging bread. 26 All day long he is gracious and lends,And his descendants are a blessing. 27 Depart from evil and do good,So you will abide forever. 28 For the LORD loves justiceAnd does not forsake His godly ones;They are preserved forever,But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. 29 The righteous will inherit the landAnd dwell in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,And his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart;His steps do not slip. 32 The wicked spies upon the righteousAnd seeks to kill him. 33 The LORD will not leave him in his handOr let him be condemned when he is judged. 34 Wait for the LORD and keep His way,And He will exalt you to inherit the land;When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. 35 I have seen a wicked, violent manSpreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil. 36 Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more;I sought for him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright;For the man of peace will have a posterity. 38 But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;The posterity of the wicked will be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;He is their strength in time of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,Because they take refuge in Him.

Those are some very potent promises, VERY potent. Think long and hard about what the Lord says He will do, do you believe He will do what He says He will do? According to your faith are things done unto you, expect nothing if you don't believe, ask the Lord for more faith if you need to, He's your father after all :-) Grace and Peace