Verse 1
I was the fool. I still act like a fool any time I sin. Your Son Jesus became the fool in my place to suffer the fool’s deserved wrath. There have been none who do good except your Son. We have all been corrupted by our evil actions. We have committed horrific deeds, thought horrific thoughts, and said horrific words. Yet, Christ took the corruption and the abomination upon Himself although He was not corrupt nor were His deeds abominable

Verse 2
Apart from Him, none of us would seek you. You looked down from heaven for just one person of understanding and goodness. Can anything escape Your sight? If there had been a good person at any point in time, you would have found him. You did not. You knew we needed a good man sent to us. A God-man.

Verse 3
Apart from Him, all have fallen and have become corrupted by sin. No one does good. No not one. Without Christ, our best works are like rags fit only to collect waste.

Verse 4
Your Son.
He never turned aside from your will.
He always does good, for He is Goodness.
He has all knowledge.
He eats the words of His Father as His bread.
He prayed perfectly with HIs Father.
He called upon His name.
Oh, God! Help us be more like He is. Grant us wisdom and grace.

Verse 5
He, by taking the place of fools, made them righteous. His Father is with them because of Him. His Father was with Him from eternity to eternity.

Verse 6
He has been united with His Father and His Spirit since the beginning. The cross was the one and only time His Father came against Him as if He was the combined foolishness and sinfulness of His people.

At that moment, that terrible moment, His Father was no longer His refuge so that He could be a refuge for His Son’s people. For us, despite our sin.

The sin and foolishness can be forgiven of any fool who would turn from sin and believe upon His Son by the power of His Holy Spirit.

What a great God and Savior we have. All of God’s people, let us rejoice and be glad in Him!

Amen.

by: Nate O’Brien

John Piper, during his fight against cancer, wrote a book entitled “Don’t Waste Your Cancer.” In it, he prayed that he would not waste the pain of his cancer by missing God’s good plan for him and hope-filled path for making much of Christ. To (possibly) a much lesser extent, I don’t want us to waste our quarantine. I want us to see God’s good plan for us and how we can make much of our Savior through times such as this. During the last several weeks, I have been helped by hearing from other brothers and sisters in Christ about lessons learned during quarantine. One of the themes of the responses I have heard again and again is that they have become more aware of their idols. I have heard the word “idol” defined several ways. I think my favorite so far is the description that God Himself gave in Jeremiah 2.  Although written immediately to Israel (as they had quite literally begun to worship false gods instead of Him), His words hold true today for all believers even in Jacksonville Florida during a quarantine. In these verses, we read: 

“Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
Jeremiah 2:11-13 (ESV)

Let’s work through this passage together and discover the full description given to us by God, the various idols we might be wrestling with, and what to do about them. 

Idols “are no gods”
There is only one God in all of existence. That one God is the God of the Bible (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:11, 44:6; Mark 12:29; James 2:19, etc.). He is the source of every good thing (James 1:17).  He alone can satisfy us - mind, body, and soul.  Idols are not Him by definition. They are substitutes for Him. They are anything that we elevate in importance up and over our God. We are commanded to love our Lord with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27, etc.). We are commanded to love Him with our whole self. We love Him, cherish Him, think about Him, and exhaust ourselves pursuing Him. Instead, we love, cherish, ponder, and work hard for many other objects of our affection and focus (i.e., people, places, things, hobbies, peace and quiet, food, etc.). Anything we turn to for satisfaction rather than Him, is an idol. Since He alone is the source of everything we need, the idols (which we perceive as little sources of those same things) are nothing.  They are paper tigers, so to speak. They have the appearance of something but none of its substance.

Idols “(do) not profit”
In Christ, we receive a glory that should belong only to God (John 17:5). We have an inheritance fit for the King of Kings (Ephesians 1:12), yet we turn away from that glory and act as if we are not children of the One God when we begin to go after idols. Idols are nothing.  They ultimately cannot satisfy us.  They are bloated with the false and empty promises with which we have stuffed them. God uses the picture of a comparison of a fountain and a cistern to demonstrate the deceiving nature of idols. A cistern was a massive pool carved out of rock and lined with masonry and cement. They could be as large as an acre of land in the time of Jeremiah. Given that machinery did not exist then as it does now, they involved great amounts of labor to construct. Their purpose was to collect and house clean water from the rains that fell. God would be, in this illustration, not a cistern but an ever gushing fountain of the purest spring water. A thousand weary travelers could always depend on such a fountain to have an unending amount of satisfying and refreshing water. By comparison, idols are not even good cisterns. They are “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Instead of going to the source of living water, we can often insist on heading over to the broken cistern to look for a drink. Broken cisterns have no water. They are bone dry and yet we go again and again to them instead of Him. 

Idol Worshipers Commit “two evils”
God informed us in Jeremiah that, in our worshiping of idols, we have committed two evils. We have (1) “forsaken (God)” and (2) “hewed out cisterns for (ourselves).” We have abandoned the Fountain of Living Water and, in that moment that we set ourselves on that idol, renounced the God who loves us.  What a horrible thought. God calls out to the heavens and commands them to do three things.  He tells them to “be appalled…, be shocked, and be utterly desolate…” He commands all of creation to mirror His revulsion at such sin. Worshiping other “gods” is appalling. We don’t often think of our sin as disgusting and revolting, but it is to a perfectly Holy God. The fact that we would turn away from such a God should shock the rational mind. Those looking on such folly should be unconsolable in their horror and sadness. As if that were not enough, we commit another evil by trying to be God ourselves.  Although not immediately apparent, this text is stating that we are attempting to be gods. We are trying to create for ourselves what God alone is (the source of Living Water – of all things good, satisfying, wonderful, etc.). We are trying to be the little gods who create and control God.

Idols Can Be Detected
Now that we know what an idol is, we can begin to detect the idols we have. When we see a red light on the dashboard of our car, we know that it is a signal from our car to us that we have an issue that needs addressing. In Galatians 5:19-21, we are given some of the red lights (or “works of the flesh”) that we can be on the lookout for indicating that we have an issue under the hood of our hearts. Even though idolatry is also mentioned in this list, the root of all “works of the flesh” is idolatry. We read that “fits of anger” is a work of the flesh. Thinking back through our recent time at home, to what have we responded with “fits of anger?” For example, let’s say that I remember when, being on an important phone call, I erupted in anger at my children for being too loud. In that moment I forsook God and went to a peaceful and quiet phone call for my source of comfort when God alone is my comfort. The unrighteousness anger was the red light and the type of call I wanted to have was my idol. While this practice can take prayer and effort to grow in, it is essential for us to undergo to grow in the image of Christ. 

Idols Can Be Smashed
Let’s say that, while reading this, you have learned more about what idols are as well as how horrible your idols are. I have Good News for you. Your idols can be smashed to pieces. Back in the time of Jeremiah, God’s people build statues to worship instead of Him.  When they admitted their sin and confessed it, they typically smashed the idols to dust to show both their sorrow and dedication to God.  In a sense, we can do the same. Once we have identified idols in our lives, our great goal is to smash them to bits.  We can do this by:

1. Praying to God to show you your idols. It is only through a work of God that we can see them as our still sinful hearts love them and we will be blind to them at times. God might use His word, fellow believers, a spouse, and/or a friend or even child to point them out to us. 

2. Pay attention to your reactions. Whenever you can recognize that you have demonstrated a sinful response (check against Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 15, etc.), seek to identify your idol. It has been helpful to me to write out the following and fill in the blanks as I go, “I forsook God in my __________ and went to ____________ for my source of ____________.”

3. Once idols are recognized, confess them to God.  Repent from them (turn in disgust away from them). Pray that God will grant you the gift of being appalled, shocked, and made utterly desolate by your idols. Put them off. Put on God as your source of ___________ (using the example above as your source of “comfort”).

4. See how wonderful His Good News is for you. Although He is rightly appalled, shocked, disgusted, desolate, and greatly angered by your sins, He has saved you. He sent His Son Jesus to take your place and pay the hell you deserve for your creation and worship of all of your idols (past, present, and future) by His death and resurrection. By meditating on the Gospel, your faith will grow.

5. Rinse and repeat. Unfortunately, our hearts produce idols at an alarming amount, at an alarming rate, and over and over again. We will have to break the same ones over and over. Do not be disheartened. Jesus promised us that He will make us more like Him (Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 1:6). The amount will go down. The rate will decrease. The repetition will gradually cease. Although we will not be sinless in this life, we will see slow improvements. 

Brothers and sisters, let us not waste precious times such as these. Even our sufferings, trials, and tribulations are good gifts from God that can be counted as JOY (James 1:2 [through verse 18]). One song that has helped me in my thinking through my own idols has been “Clear the Stage” by Jimmy Needham (referenced by Pastor Kenny in a recent sermon). I have included the link so that you can play it as you pray and begin to attack the idols of your hearts. 

 Father, we come before you in the name of your Son Jesus. We confess that we have often forsook you and created other gods in your place. We repent of them. We plead with you to show us our idols, to search our hearts, and especially bring to light those dark sins that we have hidden from ourselves. Grow our faith in you as we meditate on the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us, strengthen us, and empower us to smash the idols we have built up in our hearts that take from you our hearts, minds, soul, and strength. Help us so that we might help our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please be with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world that have it so much worse than we do. Have mercy on us and allow us to gather together again in person to worship you. Help us to never take that for granted again. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Song for Meditation: https://youtu.be/6smGew7dGto

by: Nate O’Brien

I can remember the reactions of both of my boys while being out with them as youngsters when encountering a sudden, scary,  and startling sound. One minute they would be walking completely relaxed by their father and the next they would, upon hearing the sound, become wide-eyed and panic.  They would drop the hand they were holding and take matters into their own hands.  Although I was still right there with them, they would momentarily act as if they were no longer there.  They would react as if they were alone and as if they were no longer being given protection or provision. They would act like sheep without a shepherd.   I have seen them freeze.  I have seen them run either away from the sound (and me) or toward it.  Just like a lamb, typically their reaction was not in their best interest.  They needed a reminder that their father had not left them.  Usually, I would use words to remind them.  I would use particular phrases that they were familiar with that I have used their whole lives to comfort them.  In a soft, calm, and deeper voice than normal, I would say “hey, hey.”  Their wide eyes would then find mine, they would remember that I was near, and they would come toward me and be comforted and calmed.

In times like these, we (even adults) can forget that our Good Shepherd is so near.  When we are startled by disaster, illness, death, etc. we can react like sheep and like my sweet boys.  We can freeze, run this way and that, and act as if we are alone without protection or provision.  We are in need of a reminder that our Father has not left us or forsaken us.  We need to hear His words to us.  We are so blessed to have it in the Bible and especially in Psalm 23.  With His words to us in this psalm, He is, in a sense, saying “hey, hey” to His people.  Let us meditate on His words, turn our eyes to Him, and remember that He is near.  Let us move toward Him and be comforted and calmed.  Let us consider the words of our Good Shepherd. 

1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In the first verse, we learn the identity of our Shepherd, the eternality of our Shepherd, the personal nature of our Shepherd, and the provision of our Shepherd.  The Shepherd is the One and Only Lord God of Heaven and Earth.  There is no other.  He is the triune God of the bible.  He is Immanuel (Matthew 1:23), Deliverer (2 Corinthians 1:10), Savior (1 John 4:14), and most familiar Jesus (Luke 1:31).  He has so many wonderful names.  In times such as this, it is good to remember that our Shepherd is the Lord.  He is not a man only that He could fail us.  The Shepherd is eternal as we can see with the simple word is. We do not have a Shepherd that was or that will be, but one that is ever-present.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  He is a personal Shepherd as He is “my shepherd”.  What a thought!  Who am I to even have His attention?  It is not who I am, but who He is.  He knows His sheep (John 10:3) and they know Him (v. 4).  The Shepherd provides everything His sheep need and so they “shall not want”.  He is Himself the source of what they require.  Now, it is not always what the sheep want, but it is always what is good and best for them (Romans 8:28-29).

2. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
In the second and third verses, we learn more of the provision of our Shepherd.  Sheep typically do not lie down unless they are calm and content (they are very similar to little boys).  The Good Shepherd provides the food that His sheep need so that they can rest.  They might not always rest despite having what they need, but they always have what they need to rest.  He provides them physical food and especially the food that their spirits desperately need.  He is the bread from heaven (John 6:51). He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14) .  We cannot live on bread alone, but on every word of God (Matthew 4:4).  Sheep typically do not follow the lead of their shepherd unless they trust Him.  They often have to be driven.  Yet, the words used in the psalm indicate that the Good Shepherd gently leads His sheep "beside still waters". He provides them physical drink and especially the water that their spirits desperately need as well.  He is a fountain of living water (John 7:37-39).  Physical water can run out, yet He is never-ending.  Whenever His sheep are thirsty, they can come to Him for drink.  Yes, His words are food and drink for our spirits.  Not many of us starve our bodies from physical food yet many of us starve our spirits.  We must go to Him and His word in prayer and with thanksgiving so that we have healthy, calm, content, and trusting spirits. 

3. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Our spirits can be wearied by life in a sin-cursed world, as a result of our own sin, and as a result of the sins of others.  They can become downtrodden.  It is why David, the author of this and so many psalms, is constantly telling himself "be lifted up O my soul!"  He usually stated this right before reflecting on who God is and what He has done.  In all three of those circumstances, our Good Shepherd restores our souls.  Remembering Him and what He has done lifts our spirits.  Crying out to Him in sorrow for what we have done brings comfort and forgiveness (Psalm 119:176).  Praying for our enemies brings peace.  He causes us to constantly be more and more like Him.  He promised to finish what He started in our hearts upon His saving of us (Philippians 1:6).  Why does He do this?  For His name's sake.  His name is so precious to Him.  His reputation (His glory) is His first concern.  Over and over throughout the scriptures, we read about it (one of my favorite set of verses on this subject are Ephesians 1:1-14).  That is a sweet comfort to His sheep as we can trust that He will restore us and He will guide us in "paths of righteousness" because His name is at stake.  He will not fail.

4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
In the fourth verse, we learn about the present help and comfort of our Shepherd.  The psalmist spoke of the fact that we will walk through "the valley of the shadow of death."  We will suffer in this world.  We will be given trials and tribulations.  Anyone who tells you that you can have your best life now is contradicting scripture.  The word of God tells us again and again that we will suffer.  It also promises that we will never suffer alone.  Our Shepherd is always with us (Matthew 1:23).  We need not fear anyone but Him rightly.  Even then, He comforts us (Revelation 1:17-18).  There will be evil in the valley.  There will be sin (our sin and the sin of others), illness (to include viruses), the evil one, and even death that we must face.  Yet we do not suffer or grieve as those without hope for our Shepherd is with us in the valley.  He will bring us out one way or the other.  He has promised.  The rod of a shepherd is for protecting the sheep and the staff is for rescuing the sheep.  Yes, the protection and salvation offered by our Shepherd is our present help and comfort today and every day.  Our flesh might feel the real emotion of worry and fear.  We must preach the good news of the gospel to our flesh.  "Be lifted up O my soul!"  We must battle against our feelings with the facts of scripture until our emotions bow the knee to Christ.  Your Shepherd is with you even now.

5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
In the fifth and sixth verses, we learn of the hope offered by our Shepherd.  Oh, His promises are rich and many!  He gives hope to His sheep with His words.  Despite having to face the shadowy enemies of sin, disease, death, and the devil; we will be victorious over all in Christ.  There is coming a time when we will sit with our Shepherd free from all harm.  Our past enemies will only be left to watch us sup with our God.  We will be free from sin, all disease (especially viruses), death, and the devil.  We will be made members of the household of God (Ephesians 2: 19-22).  Having been hate-filled enemies of the One True King, we will be family by sweet adoption.  We will be sons and daughters of the Most High God.  We will lack no good thing.  And my heart can barely stand reading that He will "prepare a table before me."  Who am I that the Lord of Creation should serve me?  I am a sinful wretch and yet, He will prepare a table before me.  I am not even worthy of cleaning up after Him!  Behold our Humble Shepherd (Philippians 2:5-11).  Who is this King of Glory?  Who is this Creator who serves His creatures?  O, He is your Shepherd!  He leads us with a glorious vision of future Hope.  Let us follow Him.

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
But that is not enough for our sweet Shepherd.  He saves us.  He serves us.  He sups with us.  He stays with us forever.  In this life and the next, He is with us.  Even in the midst of suffering, I have known Him to be so good and so full of mercy.  The words of God are true.  My experience does not validate them, however, my experience is possible because they are true.  Christ has been walking with me for 19 years.  He has never lacked in goodness and mercy even in the darkest days in the deepest valleys.  I can echo the psalmist when saying, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."  Perhaps you have not yet experienced His goodness and mercy.  Preach this truth to your spirit and to your flesh.  I have such a hope in this life yet my hope for the one to come is even greater.  Not only will we be free from all evil, but we are also guaranteed eternity with Him forever.  We are to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever”.  That word dwell signifies an intimate fellowship that is permanent.  We will be with Him forever.   

For all of the sheep who belong to the Good Shepherd, be reminded of your Good Shepherd.  He is gently calling out to you "hey, hey" through His words.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look toward the face of Your Shepherd and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.  Remember that you were dead in your trespasses and sins and you were deserving of hell for your crimes against God.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved you saved you by His grace (Ephesians 2:1-5).  The Father sent His Son to live a sinless life, suffer your punishment on the cross, die, and rise again so that you could be saved and forgiven of your sins.  He, by the power of His Holy Spirit, caused you to be born again.  He made you His sheep, gave you a new heart, and is making you more and more like His Son.  Draw near to Him.  Remember that you have a Good Shepherd who provides all you need, offers present help and comfort, and is your hope now and forever.  If you, like me, have been anxious and worried, confess your sins to Him.  Obey Him when He says "do not be anxious (Matthew 6:25-34)."  Cry out to Him for a heart that is not anxious.  Ask Him to help you trust Him more and more - especially during this time of dark valleys.  He will hear you and answer your prayers.

For those of you who do not belong to the Good Shepherd, I am most saddened for you.  I don't know how you will weather these times or the times to come.  For you do not have a Shepherd.  You will always be in want.  There will be no green pastures or still waters for you.  Your soul will not be restored.  God has set commandments or rules you must obey.  You have disobeyed and broken His laws.  You have not honored God as you ought, you have lied, been disobedient to your parents, hated others, coveted their things, and have taken what was not yours.  If you have done this even once, you are guilty before a Holy God.  You will continue to be lead in the paths of sin and unrighteousness.  You will walk through the valleys of the shadow of death and you will be so afraid.  There will be no comfort for you there.  You will eventually die and stand before the God of the universe.  He will render the guilty verdict.  Instead of serving you, adopting you, and caring for you forever, He will sentence you.  Your sentence will be hell forever.  Criminals must pay the fine for their crimes.  You will be confined into His prison with your enemies forever.  This was the state of my own heart.  This was my own sentencing before He changed me and renewed me by His love and grace. There is good news for you too, if, by God's grace, you will hear it!  The word of God says that if you repent (confess and turn from your sins) and believe (accept and trust) in Jesus (who He is and what He has done for sinners like you), you will be saved.  God commutes your death sentence and renders it paid by His Son.  He forgives your sins, changes you, and adopts you into His family.  Repent therefore and believe this Good News.  We would love for you to join the family and experience all the promises offered by Psalm 23 to His people.

May God bless you all during these times.

For as long as I can remember, my mom has always been excited about the holidays. Almost too excited. She would start getting revved up weeks before the holiday arrived. She would plan and scheme and focus all of her considerable might on the execution of her holiday plans. Decorations would begin to appear early. Music would be played well in advance. If there was a movie that applied to the particular holiday in question, we would watch it again and again (claymation was the preferred form of entertainment). Once the holiday passed, the decorations would stubbornly sit and protest the end of the holiday. At times, weeks could go by before their sit-in would end. The holidays elicit different emotions in different people. For some of us there is sweet anticipation and excitement. For others there is apathy. For many of us there is grief and a deep sadness. The Easter Holiday (or Resurrection Day) has a message for all of us. A message of a hope that will never fail.

Many people place their hope in something or someone for something. For example, they might place their hope in their money for their security and happiness. They might place their hope in the success of their children for their sense of personal satisfaction. In every case, such objects of hope eventually fail. Money disappears. Children fail. Many people have given up hoping in anything which eventually leads to a sense of hopelessness and sadness. On Easter Sunday, Pastor Kenny discussed John 11: 17-44 and focused on the death and resurrection of Lazarus. He explained that we as believers place our hope in the God-man Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, the freedom from the punishment we deserve, an eternal relationship with the God of the universe, and the resurrection from the dead unto eternal life with Him (free from sin, death, and all evil). What a great hope we as Christians have in Him! Sadly, we do not often think richly and meditate deeply on what all this hope means.

In the section of verses from that we heard preached, there were was a particular phrase and a particular verse that seemed to be especially encouraging. In verses 33 and 38, we read that Jesus was "deeply moved." The word originally used portrays a sense of deep sadness and anger. As Pastor Kenny pointed out, Jesus was angry at the effects of sin, death, and evil in His world. He was saddened because of the grief of His friends and perhaps even over the death of his friend Lazarus (even though He knew that He was going to soon resurrect him). Death was not a part of the initial creation. Death entered into creation because of the sin of Adam and Eve. That is also why we grieve at the loss of those we love. That is why some of us are so sad during certain (or sometimes all) of the holidays. We miss them. It is not right that they are not here with us. In verse 35, we read that "Jesus wept" or cried softly. At this point you might be asking, "how is reading about Jesus' sadness, anger, and tears a message of hope?" I will endeavor to explain.

Our God is not a god who is far off. He is not a god who does not know what it means to be human. He is not a god who is apathetic to our plight, our suffering, and our emotions. No, God the Son put on humanity. He lived for 30 plus years and endured everything that we endure. He was tempted, tired, hungry, and thirsty. He suffered pain, loss, and grief. He experienced every emotion we have. He was different than us in only one way. He was without sin. Easter is a celebration of The God who is close to His people (Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28; 20; Hebrews 13:5). It is a celebration of The God who was not content merely to become one of us but to also save us from sin, death, the devil, and the punishment due to sinners. Our God was not only "deeply moved." He did not only weep. No. He acted. He brought Lazarus back from the dead. He did not stop there. He went to the cross for His people. On that cross, He traded His royal robes of majesty for the soiled cloak of our sin. He absorbed our hell by taking our place. He died and was buried. And on the third day, He rose from the dead beating sin, death, and the devil.

His is The Message of Hope. To those who celebrate, His message is to celebrate Him (who He is and what He did). To those who are indifferent, His message is that there is One who is worthy of being trusted with their hope. To those who are sad beyond measure, His message is that there is One who is the source of comfort and hope even in grief. To those who do not know The One True God of the bible through Jesus Christ, turn from your unbelief. Repent of your sins and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He is a Savior of sinners and the only hope that will never fail. To my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us hope in Him and Him alone. Let us tear our hope away from people and things that will all ultimately fail us and once again place it on the mighty shoulders of our steadfast Savior. Let us rejoice in Him. Let us stoke the fire of our indifferent hearts with the good news of His resurrection. Let us grieve, but not as those who are without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our hope is found in nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Happy Easter!

Most of us have witnessed the same scene play out as we were running errands. I have participated in this same scenario more than once. When my sons were younger, I would always exit a store with them in the same way. Once we were about to walk out of the doors, I would lean down and grab their hand in mine and hold it fast. Only then would we move toward the end of the curb to wait until it was safe enough to head toward our car. Suddenly, something (usually a penny) would catch their attention and they would lunge into the street oblivious to the cargo van moving too quickly through the parking lot. My hold on them was the only thing that kept them from a horrific fate.

What was their reaction to my obvious care for them? Did they quickly turn and say, "sorry daddy, thanks for saving me?" Not even close. Most of the time, they would react with violence. They would either attack me or begin to throw themselves in every possible direction in an attempt to break free. They would exhaust all of the words they did know trying to tell me what they thought of me and my keeping them from their desired goal. They risked their lives for a dirty penny when they had a turtle bank at home with much more than that in it and a father who delighted in giving them good gifts. Instead of good gifts from their father, punishment was coming.

I wish I could say that I no longer act at all as my sons did years ago. But, I cannot. I was reminded of the hard truth of the sinfulness of my own heart today while listening to Pastor Kenny preach on Psalm 73. I was reminded that I can and do act like they did against God when I sin. Asaph, the author of this particular psalm, recounted a time when he committed the sins of complaining, envy, and unbelief. Though he began his lament by stating truth in verse 1, he quickly took his eyes off of God and began to speak with exaggeration mixing truth with untruth (v. 4 - 15). In his complaints to God regarding his feelings about his suffering, he alleged that the wealthy and unbelieving people around him were not suffering as he did. Asaph had put his eyes only on himself. He was throwing a pity part with a guest list of one. He substituted his feelings as his source of truth instead of God and His word. It was not until he went to worship with God's people (verse 17) that he began to turn his eyes back on God and gain an eternal perspective.

Asaph then wrote the two verses that cut me to the core. In verse 22, as a result of looking at himself in the light of who God is, he stated, "I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you (ESV)." When he realized how he had sinned against God he saw himself as he was, an ignorant beast. He quickly turned from his complaining, envy, and unbelief and broke out into praise and worship (verses 23-28). In verse 23 he went on to state, "Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand." Asaph noted that, despite his sin, his Heavenly Father was still with him. It was certainly not due to Asaph's efforts or anything he had done. In fact, his Father should have let go of him. Instead, He maintained His hold and stayed near.

Like Asaph, I still sin. I complain (which is a lack of thankfulness) and covet what others have. My lack of thankfulness and my envy demonstrate a lack of belief in God's goodness (which I, like Asaph did in verse 1, would affirm). God commands me to always give thanks to Him (Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:6), not to be envious or covet (Exodus 20:17; Ephesians 5:5), and to trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). Yet, I lunge this way and that striving for shiny trinkets (idols) that are worthless. I act like a brutish and ignorant beast. For sinning against a good and eternal God, I deserve punishment (called hell) forever. Nevertheless, He is with me. What a thought! In addition to saving me (by paying for all of my sins) and causing me to be born again through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son Jesus; He keeps me with Him until the day I go to be with Him. If He left my safekeeping to me, all would be lost. Let us react the same way Asaph did in verses 23-28 and praise God for He is so good! Let us remember that when we sin, He will hold us fast. Let us remember that when we suffer, He will hold us fast. For our Savior loves us so, He will hold us fast.

Lastly, let us not forget those who do not know Christ. Asaph remembered them in verse 27. They will pay for the sins that they have committed for eternity and there will be no forgiveness for them without Christ. Let us respond by telling them "of all of your (God's) works." Let us share the good news of Jesus Christ with them (1 Corinthians 15: 2-6) and pray that God grant them repentance of their sins (2 Timothy 2:25) and faith in Him (Ephesians 2: 8-9) through Jesus. Let us, like Asaph, share the goodness of God.

**Resources - He Will Hold Me Fast (https://youtu.be/TNi3ejUCYrY) **