March 22, 2024 – Slow to Anger

“And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and the fourth generation.’ “Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.” Numbers 14:17-19

“You know the scene. You’ve rushed to the grocery store to get a few critical items your family needs. Your plan is to get in and out as quickly as is humanly possible. You sprint down the aisles and grab your stuff, then run to the checkout lines, only to discover that the self-serve lanes are closed for repair and only one clerk is working. Just as you reach her lane, a woman pulls in front of you with a cart of 150 items. You can feel your chest tighten. It’s not enough that she slowly reexamines every item as she puts it on the belt, but after emptying her cart she pulls out 120 coupons that have to be cross-checked with the corresponding grocery items. You’re beginning to get angry. Finally her quest to save every last penny is over, but then she discovers that she has to pay. It’s as if it’s a fresh concept to her. Until this point, she has made no move toward her purse, which is about the size of a camping tent for six. As she begins to pull makeup, cookies, and small children out of her purse, you bellow, “Come on, are you kidding me?” As everyone at the front of the store turns to look at you, you realize you said it louder than you planned.” (“New Morning Mercies”, March 25; Paul David Tripp)

I have been behind someone like the above example given to us by David Tripp. I have stood there wondering about the choices I make when getting in the line at the grocery store – how I always end up behind someone like that. It is hard not to let your seething anger, or at least your endless frustration to boil over. And yet you also know that the whole thing is ridiculously minor. You get mad at yourself because your anger is too close to the surface of your life. You’re irritated because your anger begins to seem more natural to you than patience.

We can only thank the Lord that the Lord does not seethe with anger when we delay our love, gratitude, and repentance. It is good that the Lord does not rain down upon us insults and gestures when we hem and haw about spending more time in church, or sharing our love more prodigally. Even on our worst days, G-d still loves us beyond all measure. Remember that the next time you are stuck in a slow line – and pray for patience instead of heaping up coals upon someone else’s head.

Pastor Dave

March 21, 2024 – The Ultimate Glory

“O children of Zion, be glad, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army that I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel  and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” Joel 2:23-27

“Here’s what you need to understand: only two types of glory exist—sign glory and ultimate glory. Sign glory is all the wondrous display of sights, sounds, colors, textures, tastes, smells, and experiences of the physical world that God created. These glories were not designed to satisfy your heart. They were not made to give you contentment, peace, meaning, and purpose. They have no capacity to give you life. Earth will never be your savior. Rather, all of creation was designed to be one big sign that points you to the One of ultimate glory who alone has the power to give you life and to satisfy your heart. God alone is able to give you life.” (“New Morning Mercies”, March 24; Paul David Tripp)

Where will you look for life today? Too many people look to this world, to this society, to this planet for their ultimate satisfaction. Too many people believe that Disney World is their ultimate destination in life. Others believe they find their greatest reward in the mountains. Those are wonderful and magical places, but they are not the Glory of G-d. Jesus is the one who offers us not only life now, but eternal life. When we strive to live the Christ-like life, we are truly choosing to seek G-d’s glory. It is G-d who gives us the rains and the sun, the winter and the spring, the earthly struggles and rewards. But nothing on this earth will compare with the glory yet to be revealed to us in G-d’s kingdom. It really is true that your heart will only ever be satisfied when it finds its satisfaction in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave