Keeping Your Wits When Others Are Insane- Psalm 127

Note: I would like any reader, especially my international readers to send me an email: jayopsis@gmail.com. I would like to know more about how these devotions may be helping you and how you are holding up in the crisis.

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain. 

2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward. 

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth. 

5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

I made this onto a song- you can hear it here:

Unless the Lord (psalm of Ascent 127)

I have always loved this Psalm, but for years had a hard time reconciling the two stanzas.

On first glance, it seems to be about two different things that don't really work together. But as you meditate on it- it makes sense in a variety of applications.

What is your primary call of discipleship? 

If you have children.... they are your primary mission field. and you labor to train them to be warriors and laborers for the kingdom of God.

And believe me.... it is an IMPOSSIBLE task... one that you will never regret working on and one where you are completely dependent on the Lord to accomplish.

If you are stuck at home with children right now... young or old.... begin praying about what you can do with them and how you can love them and help move them in a direction to love God and love others.

I think this is what the Psalm is most about.... not professional labor primarily- but the broken call we feel like we have fallen so short in... and we really want to give up many times!

Working in vain is one of the great disappointments in life. To invest time and energy in a project only to see it 'vanish' in the wind builds a flood of frustration and stinging anguish. And it doesn't matter if the project is BIG or small.

Just think back to a time where you wrote a paper, or project (or blog post) and experienced a computer crash without saving it. See what I mean?

Are there relationships you spent your life cultivating only to see them vanish like vapor?

One of the most heartbreaking conversations I ever had was with a retired basketball coach. He was thought to be one of the finest men and expert coaches to ever work locally in the sport.

He spent two decades building a quality JUCO (Jr., college) program, even taking it to national prominence. It was a showpiece of the school.

This well respected coach retired, and soon after that, the school disbanded the entire program!

It hurt him for years. He told me that it was difficult to see all the recruiting trips, sleepless nights, fund raisers, and battles end up as a handful of sand.

We have experienced this as well recently with the sudden stoppage of life. I am still hurting for seniors who had a chance to chase a championship or experience the wonderful memories of competing together as a team.

Is it possible to keep singing in the aftermath of such a circumstance?

We have an entire book in the Bible around this theme,  Solomon exclaims in Ecclesiastes that all of life under the sun is in vain.

The overall principle in today's Psalm helps us.

All endeavors connected to the Lord in acknowledgement, worship, and sacrifice are NEVER in vain.

All endeavors NOT connected to the Lord in acknowledgement, worship, and sacrifice are ALWAYS in vain.

Let's look at these two scenarios in both a negative light and a positive light.

THE LIFE LIVED WITHOUT A PROPER RECOGNITION AND RESPONSE TO THE CREATOR AND THE RICHES OF HIS MERCY AND HIS GRACE.

The Psalmist says that without Him, all efforts and achievements are ultimately worth nothing. Jesus says it is like a man building a house on sand. Even if we have great talent. Even if we work to high standards of excellence. Even if we receive the acclamation of the world.

Eventually the crash will happen- and it is swift and sudden.

Look at selected verses of another great Psalm (Psalm 37) and pay attention to what it says:

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!  

For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb. 

For the evildoers shall be cut off, In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 

 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,  but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming. 

I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.  But he passed away,  and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

One of the big issues of people who live a life rejecting God is that they accept all of God's gifts without gratitude, humility, or obedience. They are actually throwing it right back into God's face. The greatest insult is a rejection of God's Son- which I believe is the 'unpardonable sin' in Mark 3 and Matthew 12.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO LIVE IGNORING GOD AND REJECTING HIM

• Frantic work without productivity, joy, or peace. 
• Anxiousness- it can all be taken away.
• Selfishness- you think that you earned it and deserve it
• Improper priorities- the sacrifice or worthwhile things for worthless pursuits.
• Ruined relationships.
• No impact for the kingdom of God.

CONTRAST THIS WITH ......

THE LIFE LIVED WITH A PROPER RECOGNITION AND RESPONSE TO THE CREATOR AND THE RICHES OF HIS MERCY AND HIS GRACE.

PSALM 37 AGAIN.......

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 

Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act. 

 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked. For the Lord upholds the righteous.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand. 

I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread. 

He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing. those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

NOW.. Here is where the 2nd stanza of this Psalm 127 comes in.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO LIVE ACKNOWLEDGING GOD AND LOVING HIM

• Work with productivity, joy, AND peace. 
• Peace-- He gives and takes away for our good and His glory
• UN-Selfishness- It is His and I can share
• Proper priorities- They love people more than things
• Restored relationships.
• Huge impact for the kingdom of God.

THE HOME AS YOUR MISSION FIELD:

Unless The Lord builds your house... you can't start some new 15 step program today to create God- loving children... You have to wait on the Lord. 

You can't 'whack a mole' and beat them to holiness.....

You can't change their heart......

The key is to seek the Lord and beg Him to change your heart.

The fear and panic we are seeing over this virus is small compared to the panic I see in parents at times that fear their kids are going to run to a life of ruin. And that is me many times as well. This is a mountain of a climb and one that we HAVE to wait on the Lord - unless God builds the house.... we are working (and worrying) in vain!

Parenting is the most heart-breaking, sleepless night- soul disturbing task in the universe!

Go back up through what I wrote: What is more true of you right now?

CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO LIVE IGNORING GOD AND REJECTING HIM

CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO LIVE ACKNOWLEDGING GOD AND LOVING HIM

Which of these two do you WANT to be?

start TODAY- it is never too late- stop toiling in vain... you can't fix your kids, they have the same sin you have... NO,  love them (and yes, that means discipline) and let them see you struggling well to love God and love them. Let them see you acknowledge where you have failed.

Ask for their help to build your home in a way to honor the Lord. 

Pay attention to your marriage... when your kids see you love your spouse, it helps them! When they see you admit that you don't do that well, they appreciate the honesty!

Don't DEMAND respect.... love them well, love God, be authentic in your failures,  and you will earn that respect. Even when you discipline them, don't do it in anger- tell them that though they can't understand why you want them in your house by (time) or that you say 'NO', it is because you love them and God expects you to be the one to hold them to clear and reasonable boundaries. (Hebrews 12).

I was helped by this devotion in a weird way. I actually have time these days to watch movies!

And I watched a movie called "Blinded By the Light" based on a true story of a young Turkish muslim trying to find his way in the suburbs of London in the 1980's.

As hard as the young man fought his family, and felt ANGER toward his dad.... deep down, there was always a longing for unity. Love covers a multitude of sin!

Could it be that the Lord shut all of us down for a time to re-evaluate where our pursuits are headed?

We ALL have dysfunctional families.... unity does not mean unanimity...  you may be worried about where your son is heading , don't freak out... have an honest discussion and LOVE him. He may be really angry at you right now because you are gone all the time.... tell him you love him and that you understand his pain. It will not be an instant cure.... it is simply a seed,

Your daughter may be doubting her self worth right now, and you keep badgering her about how messy her room is. It may be time to discuss it and make sure she knows that yes, you do want to keep a clean house, but that you love her way more than a perfect house. Keep beating that drum long enough and you will have a perfect house one day and it will be all empty as well.

I'm not casting shame.... I am sounding an alarm.... my children need to see me running after God, loving their mom, and make sure they know I love them and I am proud of them.

AND THESE THINGS CAN BE TANGIBLY SEEN IN A STABLE, FORGIVING, AND GROWING FAMILY.

Of course, we all know the difference in idealism and sin tarnished reality. But I have seen godly men endure life with a song BECAUSE they devoted themselves to their marriages and their children as a direct response to God's presence and grace.

May we all have the courage to forsake worthless pursuits that can disappear in a microwave moment and invest in those things that really matter.

If we do that- we have more songs to sing on our journey upward and onward!

That is why my life song is this verse....I Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

The Power of Perspective: Philippians

Years ago, I was teaching a Sunday School class and we stopped for a moment to ask questions and discuss the topic. I don't remember the topic, but I think it was a series I was doing on the Book of Revelation.

I love discussion and interaction during class and this class was always so good at it. 

But every now and then, you get a comment or quote that brings that inner crunch of discomfort and awkward wrestling where you have to decide whether to challenge it or just let it be.

One lady raised her hand and began to speak. In the course of her point, she said, "That is why I stopped reading Philippians. Every time I read Paul talking about being joyful, it just made me want to throw up. Who really lives like that?"

As I winced, I suddenly felt outnumbered..... there were quite a few who laughed (maybe out of nervousness), but as I scanned the body language it kind of shocked me... there seemed to be many who were nodding in agreement.

And I just let it go and we moved on.......

I kind of regret that now.

I know why I didn't... I was being polite...it was off topic.... the hour was late... I didn't really know the lady enough to know her circumstances..... and my response would be the ultimate, prideful, vote of approval for myself.....

"I expect followers of Jesus to live like that"

Even as I write this now, I am constantly aware that my very open...toot my own horn.... Twitter and Facebook promotion of me and my world can create as much or more angst than inspiration.

But I HAVE to be honest.... when I read Philippians.. I don't want to throw up.... I often cry with tears of joy and thanksgiving... even 35 plus years after reading it for the first time.

NATURAL OPTIMISM?

To start with, it has become very apparent to me over the course of my life that some people are more naturally optimists or pessimists - some are more positive and some are more negative. My wife would say, as a counter, "some are more idealists and some are more realists".

In 27 years of marriage- the balance between the two of us has been quite miraculous. She needs my "we are down 4 touchdowns but can still win the game" and I need her "quit hoping that the ground is going to sprout tomatoes and start digging." She has helped me to be more realistic and I have helped her to be more positive when things are going south. But our basic personalities do not change.

And in FULL disclosure, as I have gotten older, my 'Pollyanna disposition' goes on vacation a lot. Because I have been such an optimist most of my life, I was suspicious of, critical of,  and cold toward anyone who 'got down and stayed down'. Heck, just give them a little pep talk!

But in God's goodness, He has allowed me to struggle with bouts of depression that I had never really known before. Some of it is hormonal, I believe. Some of it is just the weariness of life and wear and tear of personal sin and regret.

As a 50 year old.. as I watch my children growing up and moving on... as loved ones have passed away... as life brings its challenges and heartaches...I have become MUCH more understanding of those who have to really fight for hope and encouragement.

And I have to mention, there IS a genetic piece here that is fascinating as well.

In writing this, I am not trying to minimize that anxiety and depression is an easy fix. And please understand that I am not confusing joy with 'happiness'.

But I HAVE to say that there is a power in Paul's letter to the Philippians that is REAL and has an ability to transform us all...whether we have some natural disposition or not.

And, if I may... what we are losing a lot in our culture today in ways that can be remedied in this Holy letter. Our biggest problem today is not declining morality among the unbelievers.....

Our biggest problem today is a growing negativity among God's people because we have lost a Biblical perspective of Godly contentment and a gospel approach to circumstances in culture.

And all you have to do is read Paul's heart as he pours it out to the Church at Philippi.

In the summer of 1981, I received Christ through a prayer of faith that resulted in a spiritual conversion. God had His hand on me for years, and though I had many experiences with God including a baptism, it is my belief that this was the point in my life where I was regenerated, justified and adopted, given the indwelling presence of God's Spirit, and put on a course of sanctification that will one day result in my glorification- all by God's grace and for His glory.

Because it was the summer, I spent two days after that moment reading a Good News for Modern Man translation of the New Testament. I read every page of that Bible, and the Holy Spirit seemed to be burning the words on my soul. I have never had that experience reading the Bible since- but it was a powerful gift and blessing.

The reason I am writing this is because... when I got to the Book of Philippians, and I had no previous memory of ever reading it before, the words literally exploded in me. I was reading it with a voice inside my head almost like it was the Apostle Paul speaking to me.

And that is why the Book of Philippians is so special to me. I always have to list Romans as the most important book I have ever read and Philippians has made the biggest difference in my life. The whole Bible is important and purposeful, and where would we be without the gospels. So I am not discounting anything Genesis to Revelation.... but there is a power in Philippians... especially when you understand that Paul was writing this from prison!

Philippians has some of the most memorized verses in history....


What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, (Philippians 1:18 ESV)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others..... (and the great passage that follows about the example of Jesus) (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8 ESV)

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4 ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)

In these 4 short chapters... there is an AMAZING amount of life changing truth!

But, I am going to focus on 1 verse that rises TO ME above all of them.. it is one I can spend an entire day upon..just meditation on it.....

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)

The relationship of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone has always stirred the question...what of our works?

And our default human religion has always been justification by our good deeds.

I listened to a radio sermon by R.C. Sproul recently where he mentioned that a lot of Americans live under a theology of 'justification by death' which is an assumption that we all go to heaven when we die and are immediately accepted into heaven by 'the good Lord' cause we are all basically 'good people'.

When I meditate on Philippians 2:12 I think of two particular and important details:

1) I hearken back to the 'balancing' verse in Ephesians. You know... the one we don't quote after the beautiful gospel exclamation in 2:8 and 9.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

but DO NOT LEAVE OUT VERSE 10!

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I have written this many time before and it is not my original wording.

Christianity is NOT faith in Jesus with an addition of our own good works to justify us in the presence of a Holy God.

Christianity is salvation by the atoning death of Christ ALONE.... it is not faith + works... it is a faith THAT works. Works are the fruit that is evidence of our faith. And it is fruit that take time and maturity to be displayed. And it is not as much outward deeds as it is an internal fruit of God's Spirit that spills out, so to speak, into a life that shines the love and service of Jesus.

2) There is a very interesting part of Philippians 2- "work out your own salvation"... ever though about what that may mean?

I was reminded about it recently when reading B.B. Warfield:

“Paul does not say simply "work your salvation," but "work out your salvation"— employing a compound verb which throws its emphasis on the end, "bring your salvation to its completion.
“These Philippian readers already stood with the Apostle in the fellowship of the gospel: his earnest desire for them was a complete realization in life of all that the gospel meant. They had entered upon the race; let them run it through to the goal. They had in principle received salvation in believing; let them work this salvation now completely out in life."

Excerpt From: B. B. Warfield. “Faith and Life.” iBooks. 

The way I read it in context is this- we have already been given all we need...now- let's get it on... get going on the adventure that Christ has called you to do.

But as key as those 2 distinctions are... that is not the point of the book.

There is a 'secret sauce'- so to speak when moving forward in this life with Jesus.

And if you don't get it in Philippians, you won't find it anywhere else. It is more plain in these 4 chapters than in any other place in the Bible.

Joy and Rejoicing is used 16 times in 4 chapters. Rejoice means to reclaim the joy.

So how can you do that? How can you ask people to do it without them thinking "makes me want to puke"?

Paul's point was always through a perspective.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3-6 ESV)
Paul had great confidence in his God.
Paul's God was bigger than any life circumstance.
Paul had a powerful perspective in his understanding of eternity.
Paul's present life was a mere vapor compared to the eternal glory that was coming.
Paul had a profound understanding of God's forgiveness.
Paul was able to love others with passion because of the depth of God's grace.

This was no 'pie in the sky Pollyanna optimism'.... Paul saw the risen Lord, he trusted in Jesus for his justification, and now nothing could kill his joy.

Don't hold Philippians away because you are suspicious of it... cling to it... the gospel is THAT GOOD!

Draw the Line and the Bottom Line- Romans 12

Pick up any of my 5 or 6 Bibles (there is an issue here, just skip it) and you will see a big bold line in between Romans 11:36 and Romans 12:1.

It is there as a reminder that Paul never stopped in the realm of theology.... his real objective was always a practice that produces fruit. All of his letters follow the same formula.... great, meaty, Old Testament flavored, gospel theology followed by a GREAT 'OUN' ('therefore'). The two go together.

We live in an anti-theology age. I truly feel like a dinosaur in my peer circles because I spend time with the 'old dead guys' like Calvin, the Princetonians, and other reformed greats. But I do believe that proper theology produces the sweetest fruit.

I have some incredible christian brothers and sisters who have a better passion for God than I have and are sweet, serving people. But there are 'problems' in their theology which hinder their walk. I don't say anything unless they ask, they have God's Spirit and God's word, they are saved by grace, we will sit side by side at the marriage supper of the Lamb- indeed just writing this points to my pride and the log in my own eye- but improper views of God, man, salvation, church, last days, God's word- lead to issues in practice. God's word is treasure, and if you dig and scratch, and refine.... there is incredible benefit.

These old dead guys have not killed or weakened my faith; on the contrary, I have never been more free or alive. Their commendations and admonishments have kept my eyes open as the pattern of this world continues to squeeze and mold.

Most of the sermons I hear and the books I read of our contemporary evangelical culture are not only useless, I think in many ways they are bad. Why is the church so stagnant? Several things come to mind, but it is a generation that has lost its desire to think. We believe we can find God's heart without thinking His thoughts.

I agree with the Rev Art Azurdia here:

"We must crush the spirit of this age under our feet that says, 'I don’t want to think, I want to feel'. You may say, 'Who can understand domain of theologians?' But theological lumber is something you cannot live without. It is not a philosophical conundrum for the intellectual elite. God’s sovereignty is a soft pillow for a weary head to comfort a church under attack and Christians facing opposition, even martyrdom."

Now let me talk about this LINE.

Another serious problem is those of us who want to soak in the bathtub of thoughts, and never let them flow through the heart and produce results from the inside out.

This is where Paul is so ingenious (and give the Spirit all the credit here)- He never stops in doctrine.... there is ALWAYS application.

Romans 12:1 begins the"So what?" portion of Romans and it is packed with a lifetime of 'to do's"

In fact, if you want a "Dummies Guide to Romans" or the "Ultra-Clif Note version of Romans" let it read like this.

1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

In those 3 short sections, we have a lifetime of love, liberty, leisure, and duty.

Now.... look at 12:1-2 again. Oh my! Do I have any doubt that I have "fallen short of the glory of God"?

See, all of Romans ... Chapter 1-11 is like a funnel that pours into 12:1-2. Thankfully, all of that great truth flows with it and praise God that the stock of the stew is His Spirit!

I will be unpacking the 2nd part of Romans over the next few blogs, but I encourage all of us to fall down before the King and praise Him. He is our daddy and He loves us. He has given us more than we ever imagined and now He has a task for us. It seems impossible.

Indeed, it is impossible without Him.

But the end result is too good to pass up... you will become a transformed person, able to test and approve God's good, pleasing, and perfect desire for your life!

Let's pray for one another to take another step in that direction.... today.