Well, if you've been working for the weekend, congratulations! It's here! If you're part of One Life Church, first watch this short video announcement:
I know how much I need to let God shape my perspective today, so I'm sitting down for some time alone with him in Psalm 28. You're invited to join us! First pray and ask God to speak what you need to hear. Read the psalm with me at least twice, preferably out loud. Keep looking over it and see what catches your attention most. Here's what I noticed...
Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts... Repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve. (v. 3-4)
Duplicity. There really is a lot of it in this world. Is there anything uglier? It's like AC/DC's old rant, Kicked in the Teeth Again, where Bon Scott screamed about that "two-faced woman with your two-faced lies." It reminds me of a time shortly after I had stepped into a long-established church as their new minister, some years ago. One of the 60-something couples always greeted us cordially at worship gatherings with big smiles and handshakes and were very friendly. One evening, they invited our family for dinner at their house and we had a nice time. Not long after that, I had gone to breakfast with some minister friends at a local restaurant one morning. We were sitting in a high-backed booth talking and eating when we started hearing a loud voice coming from the booth directly next to ours behind me. I immediately recognized the voice as belonging to this man who had previously had us over for dinner. He was in the middle of a rant with two of our church leaders about what a menace to the church I was! He was angrily going on and on and, at one point, even compared me to Hitler! My friends and I were looking at each other in disbelief. The reason for his malice? I had introduced projecting lyrics on screens instead of using the hymn books and brought more contemporary songs into the mix with the traditional hymns. In his mind, the church was headed straight to hell behind me.
The man's dislike of technology and new songs is one thing. He's entitled to his opinion. What disgusts me is his duplicity. There is nothing quite so slimy as a person who pretends to like you when they really hate you. They say nice things to your face and then stab you in the back with a proverbial knife. Maybe you've been the victim of someone like that. The comfort is in knowing that God sees. He knows. And he is not pleased. He will bring their treachery back to haunt them. Why? The psalm explains...
Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again. (v. 5)
What are "the works of the LORD" that such people have no regard for? Their neighbors that that they hate. What has God "done with his hands" that they totally disregard with their malice? He created that person that they are hurting. He formed them. And he loves them so much that he sent his one unique Son, Jesus, to suffer and die to save them and bring them back to himself.
Father, thank you for reminding me about the value of every person you've created. May I treat them as your works, the creation of your hands. Lord, point out any hint of duplicity in me. If any is there, please show it to me and convict me. May I never harbor malice against anyone or be guilty of treachery. Purge me of any spite towards another person. Free me from all hatred to be able to love even my enemies. Make me true and authentic in all my relationships. Amen!
We welcome you to share whatever God has stamped on your heart through this inspired text. Sign in first (top right corner of the page). Then type your comments below. Or skip the sign-in and choose Anonymous from the "Comment as" field. Have a God-led weekend!
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