Yesterday we noted that to say in the heart that there is no God is to say in the depth of our being that we hate God. And this means that in the heart we also hate those who confess God and serve Him.
As David writes in Psalm 53:4, "Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up My people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God." Or as our versification sings it:
These men of evil deeds
Will thy no knowledge gain,
Who feed upon my people's woes,
And prayer to God disdain?
Do you know this hatred of the unbeliever who says that there eye is no God? If not, you should seriously search your own heart and look carefully at your walk of life. Are you saying before the world with your words, but also with your deeds, that there is a God, and that you love Him?
These fools who say that there is no God, David says, do not call upon Him. Or as the versification has it, they ''prayer disdain.'' But what about you? Yes, in your home, with your family and in church among fellow saints, you bow your head in prayer and call upon God. But do you do that before unbelievers as well? Do you do so in public places at work or in a restaurant? Do you openly look to Him to bless that food, and give thanks to Him for His gifts?
In the measure that you do, the world will have no use for you and will feed upon your woes. You will soon begin to suffer their ridicule and find that they want no fellowship with you.
And the closer we come to the end of time, the more David's words will be our experience. Figuratively they will eat us up as they eat bread.
Jesus said it in John 15:18, ''If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.'' The world hates us because we display Christ before them. And they who crucified Christ will think nothing of eating us up as they eat bread. But there is a God, and He will bless us. He will make the world know its folly, and reveal to the unbelievers what wisdom He gave to us in His grace.
Read: Matthew 5:1-16
Psalter versification: 146:4
Devotions on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #376
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Numbers 14:1-15 : Numbers 6
Mark 14:53-72
Psalm 53:1-6
Proverbs 11:4
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Quote for Reflection:
Seeking God’s Guidance: "In all thy ways acknowledge Him." (Prov. 3:6) This means, first, we must ask God's permission for all that we do, and not act without His leave; only then do we conduct our-selves as dutiful children and respectful servants. It means, second, that we seek God's guidance in every under-taking, acknowledging our ignorance and owning our complete dependence upon Him. "In every thing by prayer and supplication" (Phil. 4:6): only so is God's lordship over us owned in a practical way. It means, third, seeking God's glory in all our ways: "whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). Ah, if we only did so, how very different many of our "ways" would be! If we more frequently paused and inquired, Will this be for God's glory? we should be withheld from much sinning and from much folly, with all its painful consequences. It means, fourth, seeking God's blessing upon every-thing. Here is another simple and sufficient rule: anything on which I cannot ask God's blessing is WRONG.” --A. Pink
Additional Info
- Date: 10-March
