September 19
Isaiah 30:12-33:9; Galatians 5:1-12; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 23:22
Help! Kids are generally much better at asking for help than adults. Somehow the older we get the more competent we feel we are at navigating life on our own. The Gospel runs contrary to this attitude. It tells us we are so helpless in the face of sin that Christ came to die for us to reconcile us to God. This battle between wanting to pretend we do not need help and our actual hopeless condition is played out in Scripture.
The Israelites in Isaiah 30-33 think their own strength or the power of other nations will provide deliverance, rather than calling out to God for help and salvation. The Galatians in chapter 5 similarly think that their conformity to the Old Testament law can somehow make them more righteous and pleasing to God. Because we can see, taste, and touch the things of this world, and the cultural pattern is to look to material things for fulfillment, it can be hard to get to the end of ourselves and rely solely on God for all we need. Yet David models this attitude in Psalm 63 by saying God is "my help."
Notice how desperate David is for God. He says that he earnestly seeks him above everything else. His soul thirsts for him and knows that satisfaction and fulfillment will only be found in him. Further, he says, "My soul clings to you." Like a rock climber holding to a handhold for dear life, so should our reliance be on God. We can look to so many places for life, satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy, but truly it will only be found in God. So let us pursue wisdom by calling out to God and asking for help in every aspect of our lives.
God my Father, thank you that you help those who call out to you. Help me not to rely on myself but to trust in you. I am needier than I can even comprehend, so help me to continually cry out to you for the help that I so desperately need. Amen.
Question of the day: What things keep you from quickly calling out to God for help?
Help! Kids are generally much better at asking for help than adults. Somehow the older we get the more competent we feel we are at navigating life on our own. The Gospel runs contrary to this attitude. It tells us we are so helpless in the face of sin that Christ came to die for us to reconcile us to God. This battle between wanting to pretend we do not need help and our actual hopeless condition is played out in Scripture.
The Israelites in Isaiah 30-33 think their own strength or the power of other nations will provide deliverance, rather than calling out to God for help and salvation. The Galatians in chapter 5 similarly think that their conformity to the Old Testament law can somehow make them more righteous and pleasing to God. Because we can see, taste, and touch the things of this world, and the cultural pattern is to look to material things for fulfillment, it can be hard to get to the end of ourselves and rely solely on God for all we need. Yet David models this attitude in Psalm 63 by saying God is "my help."
Notice how desperate David is for God. He says that he earnestly seeks him above everything else. His soul thirsts for him and knows that satisfaction and fulfillment will only be found in him. Further, he says, "My soul clings to you." Like a rock climber holding to a handhold for dear life, so should our reliance be on God. We can look to so many places for life, satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy, but truly it will only be found in God. So let us pursue wisdom by calling out to God and asking for help in every aspect of our lives.
God my Father, thank you that you help those who call out to you. Help me not to rely on myself but to trust in you. I am needier than I can even comprehend, so help me to continually cry out to you for the help that I so desperately need. Amen.
Question of the day: What things keep you from quickly calling out to God for help?
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