on September 1, 2011
Psalm 119:65-72 – Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
The Psalmist was keenly aware of the many great promises God had made to those who lived according to His Word. He believed God and hungered for that blessing promised to the obedient. He thirsted for instruction and counsel that would help him to apply God’s commandments in his daily life. He had come to realize that, although he believed in God’s Word, he sometimes went astray from it. He needed some good teaching and motivation to stay on the straight and narrow. He found that incentive – in AFFLICTION. Pain, suffering, loss, illness, distress, misfortune and tribulation can all be motivators for learning and doing what is right and good. God can, and will, use these afflictions to discipline us and teach us that His Word is righteous and best. Even though it’s painful, God’s discipline and correction is good and it produces good things in those who are trained by it.
Not everyone learns godly discipline and faith from affliction. There are those who become callous and unfeeling, who become arrogant and even more rebellious toward God and His commands. They can make life rough for those who have allowed God to rebuke and correct them through painful affliction. Because they will not believe, they make up lies to smear those who have humbled themselves before the Word of the Lord. The Psalmist is not intimidated by them and is determined to whole-heartedly keep God’s precepts. He understood the value of being afflicted – it led him to learning the things that are more precious than silver or gold!
1 Peter 4:12-16,19 – Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.
Friday:
- Give thanks that God loves you enough to discipline you.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Joan Doud (Jessica – granddaughter), John & Christine Fargo (Giovanni, Isabelle, Claire), Bethany George (last time w/ this last name).
Saturday:
- Trust God to be faithful to His promises as you live by His Word.
Sunday:
- Determine to understand God’s goodness, discipline and instruction in the midst of affliction.
- Join in with our Sunday prayer services to pray for God’s presence and blessing.
Monday:
- In times of suffering, ask God to help you gain wisdom and knowledge that leads to goodness!
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Remember how much Christ suffered for you when you feel affliction in your life or when you believe you are suffering because of your faith.
Wednesday:
- Give thanks for the gift of God’s perfect Word that is profitable for instruction, rebuke, correction and training in righteousness, so that the believer may be fully equipped for every good work.
Prayer Challenge: Pray that God will grant every believer: a passionate devotion to His Word, a humble recognition that we have much room for growth and improvement, His corrective discipline – that may be painful but produces good fruit, a steadfast courage and strength to endure the arrogance, hostility, ridicule and slander of those who disregard the beauty and authority of God’s Word.