Good Morning “Scorners, and Scorned”. Today we are in Psalm 69.
David laments as many have turned on him. He is scorned because of his Zeal for The Lord.
“For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.”
Psalms 69:7-9 NIV
Perhaps we all can relate at some level? I sure hope so… as Jesus tells us “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
John 15:18-19 NIV
One of the first consequences of sin, is more sin. Sin desires sin. God uses The Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers to convict / point out our sin. The Spirits light shines through us, or should if we are embracing the things of God. In the midst of a sinful world, with sinful people, the pursuit of righteousness is offensive. God uses the one trying to live rightly as an example to the sinner. He convicts with whispers… “This, this is how I want you to live - how you know you should be living.” Nobody likes to be accused, or even worse, called out for sin - but silently that’s what happens. Often times I believe that offense gets misapplied.
I’ve had conversations with people who have left the church, or their youth group. The conversation might go something like this…
“Those people are all such hypocrites, they’re not as perfect as they think.”
“Ha ha, yeah, no they’re not perfect. No one is. Did they do something specific that insinuated they believed they were?”
“Well, no… but I mean, they’re so self righteous… so judgmental.”
“Ok, so… again, was there something specific they did, something we can approach them about, something that made you feel judged? Let’s go confront them.”
“Well, no… it wasn’t anything specific they said… it’s just, it’s just the way they are.”
“So the way they live offends you? Crazy to be offended by someone trying to live rightly. Let me just suggest that your offense is misdirected. May I suggest your conviction and guilt is coming from The Holy Spirit? Maybe God is reaching for you? It’s not fair to shoot the messenger. Maybe instead there is business to be done with The Message Writer?”
God knows our deepest darkest secrets and offers us Salvation through Jesus anyway. He isn’t content to leave us destined for the pit. He loves us enough to get your attention. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9, 8:1)
“…you who seek God, may your hearts live!” Psalms 69:32 NIV
Love you all! Dig in!
David laments as many have turned on him. He is scorned because of his Zeal for The Lord.
“For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.”
Psalms 69:7-9 NIV
Perhaps we all can relate at some level? I sure hope so… as Jesus tells us “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
John 15:18-19 NIV
One of the first consequences of sin, is more sin. Sin desires sin. God uses The Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers to convict / point out our sin. The Spirits light shines through us, or should if we are embracing the things of God. In the midst of a sinful world, with sinful people, the pursuit of righteousness is offensive. God uses the one trying to live rightly as an example to the sinner. He convicts with whispers… “This, this is how I want you to live - how you know you should be living.” Nobody likes to be accused, or even worse, called out for sin - but silently that’s what happens. Often times I believe that offense gets misapplied.
I’ve had conversations with people who have left the church, or their youth group. The conversation might go something like this…
“Those people are all such hypocrites, they’re not as perfect as they think.”
“Ha ha, yeah, no they’re not perfect. No one is. Did they do something specific that insinuated they believed they were?”
“Well, no… but I mean, they’re so self righteous… so judgmental.”
“Ok, so… again, was there something specific they did, something we can approach them about, something that made you feel judged? Let’s go confront them.”
“Well, no… it wasn’t anything specific they said… it’s just, it’s just the way they are.”
“So the way they live offends you? Crazy to be offended by someone trying to live rightly. Let me just suggest that your offense is misdirected. May I suggest your conviction and guilt is coming from The Holy Spirit? Maybe God is reaching for you? It’s not fair to shoot the messenger. Maybe instead there is business to be done with The Message Writer?”
God knows our deepest darkest secrets and offers us Salvation through Jesus anyway. He isn’t content to leave us destined for the pit. He loves us enough to get your attention. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9, 8:1)
“…you who seek God, may your hearts live!” Psalms 69:32 NIV
Love you all! Dig in!
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