The Bars of Your Gates
Have the once-strong bars of your soul’s fortress become rusted out with the raging storms of life? Are they brittle to the touch or somehow bent by the pressures that crush you? If so, then perhaps a little seen phrase from Psalm 147 will refresh your soul today. Consider the Eternal God who “strengthens the bars of your gates” (verse 13). He is indeed the strength we need to stand each day. Are you willing to let Him be yours?
Citizens of a Different Kingdom
It’s the week of July 4th and there is no one more grateful for these United States than I. Indeed, among the things I’m reading right now is Jeff Shaara’s delightful book The Glorious Cause, which gives a vivid account of the Revolutionary War. I’m the kind of guy that when I go to a Texas Rangers game and we stand and listen to the national anthem I cry. Of course, I then cry some more just watching the Rangers pretent to play baseball.
Nonetheless, I love this country, and am so very proud to be a part of it. It’s just that when it comes to Sunday morning worship, I’m not as interested in making a big deal about it as I am about Jesus. Yes, we acknowledge the sacrifices made by our veterans; yes, we thank God for our great freedoms as a nation; yes, we have an American flag proudly displayed on the stage. But in the end we don’t spend a lot of time singing patriotic songs and having color-guard pagentry.
Is it because I’m not patriotic? No.
Is it because I’m not grateful for a nation such as ours? No.
Its because in the end we’re citizens of a different Kingdom.
Please don’t misunderstand. I love patriotic songs and fireworks and the pagentry of our nation. And there may indeed be times when we have echoed these things during Sunday worship, and shall again. But in very general terms our worship of the Triune God ought to rise far above even the greatest felt desires of patriotic fervor. After all, we serve a God whose sacrifice far surpasses those valiant heroes of Normandy and Iwo Jima and Inchon. If, as we do say often (but perhaps not often enough) life is all about Jesus, then we need to make it all about Jesus.
It is, after all, all about Him.
That is why this past Sunday we did not take time to sing patriotic songs. We have the rest of the week to do that in no end of wonderful forums all around the Metroplex.
But for an hour or so on a Sunday morning, in a circular auditorium, the Body of Christ comes together to sit at the Savior’s feet and to honor Him with praise. Even the best of earthly things could distract from that if we’re not careful.
And nothing should distract from that.