For This I have Jesus (17 Sept)

Verses for the day

Ps 119:165-168 I will praise you seven times a day because all your regulations are just. Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. I long for your rescue, LORD, so I have obeyed your commands. I have obeyed your laws, for I love them very much. Yes, I obey your commandments and laws because you know everything I do.

Story for Today

In the last message in his series titled, “Joy When Life is Tough“ Charles Price told the story of a friend of his who had a saying he used often. “For this I have Jesus.” He said, as his friend’s health deteriorate toward the end of his life, and he was near death, he asked his friend how he was doing. His response was, once again, “For this, I have Jesus.” I enjoyed Jesus in the good times when he gave me the health and strength I’ve enjoyed all my life. And I’m enjoying him in the bad time. For this, I have Jesus.

Price goes on to say, “Let me ask you this morning, is this the Jesus that you have? You know, you can have a Jesus who is little more than the patron of your theology, but he’s distant and remote. You can have a Jesus who’s simply your instructor, your teacher, but again, he’s remote. Or you can have a Jesus who’s of the very heart of everything that takes place in your life. He’s your life.”

Application

With everything going on with JBC right now, it’s easy to focus on the yuck. It’s easy to try and find blame, or want to “talk sense into people.” Which if I was in a position where I had a say, I may try to do. But, the reality is, God is still in control, and He is the one I need to be turning to, not myself, not my ability / inability to do anything about it. It’s only Jesus who can and will make a difference. When we focus on anything else, it only creates anxiety and produces hopelessness and discouragement. For this I have Jesus!

In Ps 119:145-168 David felt like he was “harassed without cause.” (161) That those who were harassing him didn’t care about God’s Word (158) and lived far from God’s instructions. (150). While David did complain about his circumstances, he spent more time focused on what knew was true about God!

• 145 I pray with all my heart.. I will obey your decrees
• 146 I cry out to you, rescue me, that I may obey your laws
• 147 I rise early before the sun, I cry out for help and put my hope in your words
• 148 I stay awake through the night thinking about your promise
• 149 let me be revived by following your regulations
• 156 how great is your mercy, let me be revived by following your regulations
• 157 many persecute and trouble me, yet I have not swerved from your laws
• 159 seeing how I love your commandments, Lord give back my life because of your unfailing love
• 161 powerful people harass me… but I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure
• 165 I will praise you seven times a day because all your regulations are just. Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble
• 166 I long for your rescue, LORD, so I have obeyed your commands.
• 167 I have obeyed your laws, for I love them very much.
• 168 Yes, I obey your commandments and laws because you know everything I do.

May we follow David’s example in the face of difficulty. Instead of allowing the circumstances to overwhelm us and discourage us, to focus on God’s character and what we know is true about Him. Then take time to meditate on those truths! For This I have Jesus!