Scripture:
Vs. 1 Praise is due to you, O God,
Vs. 4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
Vs 5 … O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
Observation:
God created everything, and is sovereign over everything.
Even more than that, He is good!
He protects us and provides for us.
This is Grace!
And what’s really amazing? … He chooses me.
“Blessed is the one You choose and bring near”.
This is Grace!
And it’s available to all … even those “at the end of the earth”.
Application:
It seems much of life is about improving the circumstances of it. … bigger … better … best.
There are a lot of “if only’s” …
If only I had a little more money … If only I could take some time off … If only my kids would … or If only I could …
Lots of pleading or wishing for a change of situation or circumstances …
It seems this is the wrong plea, though.
My plea .. my desire … should not be for better life’s circumstances.
My plea should be for the presence of God in whatever my circumstances happen to be.
The presence of God was in the temple.
And David said, “We shall be satisfied … to dwell in your courts … the holiness of your temple.”
It is the presence of God that satisfies.
But it’s so easy to go done the path of just wanting … “bigger, better, best” …
A change in my circumstances will satisfy me!
No! … I can be impressed … for a time.
We live in an amazing world. There will always be something to impress me wherever I go.
I can seek and find “awes”. Everyone can.
We live in a world of people seeking the next thrill, exhilaration … the next “awe”. And we will be “awed”.
“those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs”.
So I can be “awed”, but the better question is, “Am I satisfied?”
I can be “awed” by a little better circumstance.
But it doesn’t last.
I can ultimately only be satisfied by the presence of God, Himself, and dwelling in it.
I am the temple now. He is with me … always.
i can live in ultimate satisfaction because God is always with me.
I happen to be writing his from one of the nicest hotels in the world in one of the best cities in the world.
There is much to be “awed” by.
But only the presence of God will ultimately satisfy.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for your presence.
Holy Spirit lead me in your truth.
Help me share with others the satisfaction of living with You.
In Jesus name, Amen.