A Life Worthy

All Tuesday 8/3/21

Posted on August 3, 2021 by michaelAugust 3, 2021

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him–those who cannot keep themselves alive (Psalm 22:29).

Let’s say you’re wealthy.

No, wait–let’s say that I’m wealthy.

Really very wealthy.

I will worship him.

As will all the rich

and all the poor

and all the beautiful

and all the frighteningly unattractive

and all the fit

and all the fluffy

and all the wise

and all the ditzy.

We will all worship.

Not because of who we are

but

because of who he is.

So, since you will worship for all eternity, you might as well get started now, ya?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved

Everywhere One-a-Day Monday 8/2/21

Posted on August 2, 2021 by michaelAugust 2, 2021

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations (Psalm 22:27-28).

Every knee

Every tongue

Everywhere

And David gets to be part of that by praising God and sharing the story of his rescue.

And we get to be part of that by praising God and sharing the story of our rescue.

And the word will spread

And the praise will spread

Shall we join in, Beloved?

Happy Monday

Vows Fulfilled One-a-Day Friday 7/30/21

Posted on July 30, 2021 by michaelJuly 30, 2021

…before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him–may your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:25-26).

So, here’s the plan: David cries out to God in his distress. God hears David and rescues him. In gratitude, David presents an offering at the temple. This offering goes to feed the poor, who now see their prayers answered. They, in turn, offer their praise to God…

and so it goes.

What will you offer today, Beloved? And how will it bless the people of God, so that they glorify him with their praise?

You probably don’t have an ox, but I’m sure you can think of something.

Happy Friday, Beloved

Praise! One-a-Day Thursday 7/29/21

Posted on July 29, 2021 by michaelJuly 29, 2021

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly… (Psalm 22:25)

We sing songs that he has put in our hearts.

We praise him with words that he has formed on our lips.

We remember his faithfulness with brains that he has made and proclaim it with tongues he has crafted.

It’s pretty much all him.

Always

Praise our God today, Beloved.

It is, quite literally, what you were made to do.

Happy Thursday

Advance Praise One-a-Day Wednesday 7/28/21

Posted on July 28, 2021 by michaelJuly 28, 2021

I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help (Psalm 22:22-24).

Thank you…in advance.

This isn’t an “if” statement. David is not negotiating here. There is no, “God, if you do this for me, I will…”

You know…the kind of weak promise I may or may not have made a thousand times.

No, David spoke as if he knew, from the bottom of his being, that God would rescue and restore him.

Because he did

Beloved, consider your yuck today. Look squarely in the face of whatever is grieving and afflicting you. Then, look beyond it to the God who will deliver you as surely as morning follows night. Praise him, loud and clear, for what he will accomplish in and through and for you.

Because he will do it, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday

Help! Tuesday 7/27/21

Posted on July 27, 2021 by michaelJuly 27, 2021

But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen (Psalm 22:19-21).

Well, it’s about time.

I mean, we’re nineteen verses in, and this is the first time David has actually asked God to help. We certainly get the impression that David has asked for help in the past–and God has been silent–but so far in this Psalm he has been more focused on the problem than on the Solution.

You and I never do that, do we?

Ask him, Beloved. He knows what you’re facing. You don’t have to build a case; just

Deliver me!

Rescue me!

Save me!

He is not far off–he promised.

You’re his Beloved, after all.

Happy Tuesday

Prophecy Fulfilled One-a-Day Monday 7/26/21

Posted on July 26, 2021 by michaelJuly 26, 2021

Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing (Psalm 22:16-18).

For David, this was metaphorical.

For Jesus, not so much.

The Gospel writers point out the prophecy of these lines. As the Word of God, now Son of God, now Lamb of God took on the endless, brutal weight of sin and shame and death, the objects of his sacrifice pointed and laughed and argued over his stuff. They had no idea.

But you do, Beloved. You understand–as well as any mortal mind can–what was happening on that cross. You receive–as well as any mortal heart can–the forgiveness he offers. You walk–as well as mortal feet can–in the love and grace he has given you. You submit–as well as mortal man can–to the One who paid the price of redemption and now calls you his own.

You get it.

So…walk in it today, ya?

Happy Monday, Beloved

Bulls of Bashan One-a-Day Friday 7/23/21

Posted on July 23, 2021 by michaelJuly 23, 2021

Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death (Psalm 22:12-15).

I totally get David here.

After all, I teach middle school–the Bulls of Bashan are coming for me in about two weeks.

You could read this Psalm and think, “Well, no matter how bad things get for me, David had it worse!” And, that may be true, but I don’t think that’s the direction we’re supposed to go here. That way lies comparison and spiritual one-upsmanship. No bueno.

I think these verses are less about comparing our troubles to his than about comparing our God to his.

Same God

Same God!!

The One David cried out to is the One who hears you this morning. The One who called David the apple of his eye calls you Beloved.

And he will come for you.

This Psalm isn’t over.

Neither is yours.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Alone One-a-Day Thursday 7/22/21

Posted on July 22, 2021 by michaelJuly 22, 2021

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help (Psalm 22:11).

Many moons ago, I taught my daughter to ride a bicycle. She had one request of me as she pedaled her wobbly way up and down the sidewalk in front of our house:

Don’t go anywhere.

So I didn’t.

Interesting how little we change as we grow up. When disaster swirls around us and we feel completely in over our heads, our cry is simple.

Don’t go anywhere.

Stay with me.

I heard my daughter’s cry–every single one of the 947 times she uttered it.

I heard her, and I loved her, and I stayed by her side.

And God’s way better at this than I am, so…

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

From the Beginning One-a-Day Wednesday 7/21/21

Posted on July 21, 2021 by michaelJuly 21, 2021

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God (Psalm 22:9-10).

David had never not known God.

How cool is that?

Notice the pattern here. David is fearful because God does not seem to be responding to his situation. Then, David remembers how faithful God has been to his people through the years, and that knowledge gives him comfort. Then David looks at his own unworthiness and is again tossed into the proverbial Pit of Despair.

And then he remembers God’s faithfulness, this time to him personally.

Peace

I came to Christ at age nineteen. Before that, God was there; I just didn’t recognize him. I can look back and see that he protected and provided and cared for me long before I realized what was going on. That’s a rock I can hold onto in the ugly times.

And trust me–I do.

How’s about you, Beloved? Do you remember a time when you did not know God? Can you look back now and see him at work, even before you realized he was working? Can you walk into your Wednesday secure in the knowledge that from the womb you have been loved by the One True God?

Then do so.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved