The Eyes of the Lord…
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil
(1Peter 3:12).
WE ARE PLODDING THROUGH PETER'S first epistle. He wrote about how to live the Christian life in a world that is hostile to God. We learn a lot about God and ourselves in studying these two books. Have you thought about the eyes of the Lord?
ON HIS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Johnny’s mother walked with him to school. On the second day he wanted to walk the two blocks by himself, so his friends wouldn’t see his mother walking with him. But she made a deal with him: she would walk several steps behind him. A month went by and he wanted no more of Mommy’s walking behind him. He had met a school mate who would walk with him. This wise mother called the other boy’s mother and they recruited two women to quietly walk several yards behind without the boys seeing them.
However, several days later Johnny said to his little friend: “Freddie have you noticed those two women walking behind us every morning?” “Yeah, I’ve seen em.” “Do you know who they are?” “Well, I don’t know for sure but I’ve heard about em.” “Do you know their names?” “Well, I don’t know for sure but I think I’ve heard my mother talk about em.” “Who are they?” “I think it’s Marcie and Gracie.”
ISN'T IT JUST LIKE THE LORD to impart His own caring nature into mothers? Most mothers watch their babies like a mother hen watching her biddies. And who taught mother hens to watch their biddies? And who taught mama bears to watch out for her cubs and sows to watch out for her pigs? Messin’ with cubs and pigs can shorten your life!
IF WE CAN DEPEND ON THE SUN TO COME UP IN THE EAST, we can depend on the eyes of the Lord to be watching over us every day if we know Him and are trying to obey Him in everything we do. If we need to talk to Him, we are assured that His ears are open to listen. All Christians don’t know that. If we are self-centered and away from the Lord, we can count on the face of the Lord being against us.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (2Chronicles 16:9a).
DIGGING DEEPER.
Peter continues by asking: And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (1Peter 3:13-14)
“The idea is, that God would protect them, though the next verse shows that the apostle did not mean to teach that there would be absolute security, for it is implied there that they might be called to suffer for righteousness” sake. The Saviour was persecuted by wicked people, though his life was wholly spent in doing good; the apostles were put to death, though following his example; and good people have often suffered persecution, though laboring only to do good.
“… still it is true as a general thing that a life of integrity and benevolence leans hard toward safety, even in a wicked world. People who are upright and pure; who live to do good to others who are characteristically benevolent and who are imitators of God - are those who usually pass life with the most tranquility and security….. The world ultimately judges right respecting character, and renders “honor to whom honor is due. Compare Psalm 37:3-6.” (Barnes-abbreviated)
THE THREE HEBREW CHILDREN ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE of the right attitude when faced with suffering or death for the Lord’s sake. They said humbly to Nebuchadnezzar (in today’s Iraq): If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3:17-18). Then…
Nebuchadnezzar went into a rage! Everyone is not going to be happy when you agree with God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10). Here is our emergency kit: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
HERE IS THE COMFORTINGG THOUGHT: “When I’m walking with God, nothing is going to happen to me unless God approves it and is going to walk with me through it to the other side. We have His word on this:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29)
GOD DOESN'T WASTE ANYTHING. He is going to use your pain and sorrow as tools to make you into the image of His Son. That is the big picture. Not only did God save you, His plan is to make you to be like His Son, Jesus. God is making a lot of people to be like Him. They are called: “Many Brethren.” It takes a lot of things for God to make us into the image of His Son. It takes “all things.” In the hard days, it will help if we remember:
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil (1Peter 3:12). Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
FEBRUARY 28, 2018 – WEDNESDAY
A.M. Numbers 21-22 P.M. Mark 7:14-37
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Good Verses to Memorize:
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (1John 5:14-15).
Song for Today:
How Great Thou Art (7:43) ( Kim Collingsworth & Family & Orchestra)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO67xEESp1M
In my mind, this woman is the best Christian pianist there is, today. She plays as unto the Lord and mouths the words. The vocal part is in the background. It looks like a nine-foot grand piano and she is part of the piano. Sooo-moving! I hope you have the time to listen to all of it! I must hear again.
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