BE HAPPY WHEN TREMBLING
Psalm 2:11-12: “Serve the Lord with fear
and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the
Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare
up at any moment. Blessed are all who
take refuge in Him.”
Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the Lord
with gladness.” So, which is it? Both are correct. This devotion will try to explain. Also, check out the lesson that’s linked
below. We’re to fear because there is
real danger. Hebrews 12:28b-29 says,
“Let us…worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a
consuming fire.'"
But those who are in Christ are
considered elect (His chosen), and are safe.
Why do we enjoy scary movies? We know that the monster can’t get us in the
theater. It’s okay to be scared as long
as we’re safe. That thrills us. Our “trembling” comes from seeing the terrible
grandeur of God’s holiness, while knowing that He loves us.
Trembling does not rob us of happiness
because: 1) It drives us into Jesus’ safe, sure arms, and 2) Jesus supports our
quaking with reverent wonder in the presence of God’s awesomeness. That’s the thrill that people want to feel—as long as it doesn’t
threaten us.
But, examine yourself!
Apostle Paul advises that we test
ourselves to see if we are in the faith.
Is Jesus is you? Or do you fail
that test? If Jesus is in you, then stand
firm. Don’t fall down in your
faith. Confidence in Christ is rooted in
His keeping us DAILY—not once and done.
For Jude 24 says, “[He] is able to keep you from falling and to present
you without fault and with great joy.”
Our confidence comes from Christ,
not in ourselves!
God is a jealous God. We belong to Him. He won’t tolerate His children loving
anything or anyone more than Him. If we do
love another more, we lose eternal life.
God will either be our greatest love or our enemy. The “kiss” is one of adoration and
submission, perhaps as we bow before Jesus. The safest place for God’s kids in all the
universe is at Jesus’ feet.
Take Home Nugget
Because God’s “wrath can fare up at any
moment,” let’s not to trifle with God.
He won’t be mocked.
The only place that’s safe from God’s
wrath is in God. There is nowhere to
hide. We’re to run to Him, cling to Him, and hide
in the shadow of His wings. Do you understand
now how to be both happy when trembling while serving God? Thrilled when trembling. Sweet fellowship. Believers in Christ are safe in our heavenly
Father’s arms.
God’s wrath is terrible when not safe in Jesus.
Adapted from “Christianity.com
Daily Inspirations” by John Piper. www.DesiringGod.org.
September 7, 2015.
J.D. Griffith
Written
for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com
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