Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. The wicked plots against the righteous; and gnashes at him with his teeth. The LORD laughs at him; for He sees his day is coming.
If ever there was a time when we need to heed this promise, it's today. We are overdosing on bad news. Technology has amplified the problems of the world, bringing bad news to us on a constant and universal basis. Where the local paper used to bring to us the events surrounding our more immediate vicinity, and that only daily, now cable TV and the web bring us events from around the world, minute by minute. Whereas the presence of evil may not be worse, nor more prevalent, than years past, it certainly is more available than years past, causing us to think that evil prevails while righteousness suffers. I think it has caused us, as Christians, to become so affected by the negative that we've lost the greatest appeal of early Christianity, and that is JOY. We are coming across as angry with the world, and that, somehow, if God won't do it, we'll take them on. But, as the media continues to bombard us with evidence of a lost cause, we fret and stew, filling all of our conversations and endeavors with our bitterness and judgment. It's to us that the Psalmist says, "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land." The word "rest" means to "be still". We need to learn to take up causes without fostering divisive radicalism and extremism. This only breeds anger, and it's zeal without knowledge. Christians should, by the very nature of Christ in them, come down a stronger line, which is that of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, with the heartfelt knowledge that God is in control: "Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. The wicked plots against the righteous; and gnashes at him with his teeth. The LORD laughs at him; for He sees his day is coming. This isn't something we flaunt. This is just where we rest.
If ever there was a time when we need to heed this promise, it's today. We are overdosing on bad news. Technology has amplified the problems of the world, bringing bad news to us on a constant and universal basis. Where the local paper used to bring to us the events surrounding our more immediate vicinity, and that only daily, now cable TV and the web bring us events from around the world, minute by minute. Whereas the presence of evil may not be worse, nor more prevalent, than years past, it certainly is more available than years past, causing us to think that evil prevails while righteousness suffers. I think it has caused us, as Christians, to become so affected by the negative that we've lost the greatest appeal of early Christianity, and that is JOY. We are coming across as angry with the world, and that, somehow, if God won't do it, we'll take them on. But, as the media continues to bombard us with evidence of a lost cause, we fret and stew, filling all of our conversations and endeavors with our bitterness and judgment. It's to us that the Psalmist says, "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land." The word "rest" means to "be still". We need to learn to take up causes without fostering divisive radicalism and extremism. This only breeds anger, and it's zeal without knowledge. Christians should, by the very nature of Christ in them, come down a stronger line, which is that of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, with the heartfelt knowledge that God is in control: "Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. The wicked plots against the righteous; and gnashes at him with his teeth. The LORD laughs at him; for He sees his day is coming. This isn't something we flaunt. This is just where we rest.
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