A mama prays always for ‘safety’ for her children. That’s just what being a mama is all about! Eating the right foods to have the ‘safety’ of good health and energy. Wearing the right clothes to stay ‘safely’ healthy and comfortable.Teaching the ‘way home’ for now… and forever,and encouraging a ‘safe’ attitude about school so that one day each child can get a job! But God simplifies for His children what will keep them ‘safe’, when it’s all said and done: “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil 3:1, words of Paul while he was sitting in a cold,dank jail cell!)
Yes, God inspired and breathed words that were to be placed in the Holy Bible during a physically miserable time in Paul’s life, yet he pens: ” Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” (Phil 3:1.) Paul even goes on to write in the same letter, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). The exclamation point and all, in the cold, dank jail. And he writes so as God’s children stay ‘safe.’
Foundational to emotional health and spiritual health is no mystery, God makes it plain. Did you know that when the foundation of the 2nd Temple (of Zurubbabel) was being laid in Israel, (because the 1st Temple of Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians) we have recorded for us the entire eye witness account? Being that God reminds us, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own?”(1 Cor. 6:19). Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, what is foundational for us to stay safe? Here’s the account:
“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks unto the LORD;
“For He is good, For his mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” (Ezra 3:10-110.
That’s not just recorded once in this hidden letter in the Old Testament. God makes sure this is put in the Bible again- this is foundational! Foundational to keep His children safe- is a thankful heart!
No matter what! Psalm 107:1, “O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” That’s how Paul could write when he had no idea what his future held, “Rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for YOU it is safe.” Children, young and old, whether in green pastures or rough seas, take hold of something foundational- it is easy to ‘give thanks to the Lord’ when we, His children remember, He doesn’t give us what we deserve, He gives us grace and mercy forever! This earth is not our home, we have a home being prepared for us in heaven, “if it were not so, I would have told you”, Jesus told us in John 14.
Do you need some good news? Do you need help being thankful? This is the Song that was sung when the 2nd Temple was being laid. Maybe your Temple has been torn down like the first Temple of Solomon was, but a song was sung when the foundation was being laid for the 2nd. God is a God of 2nd chances, shall we gather together as in that day Ezra recorded and sing that same song? Fathers, Mothers, children; families- lets stay safe and gather together:
OH, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands,… they wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way,That they might go to a city for habitation.
Oh that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the hungry soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” (Psalm 107:1-9).
But that’s not all, the song has more, so rich and full of healing…”He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.”(Ps. 107:20). But take note, these healing words come AFTER, “Fools because of transgression, And because of iniqities, were aflilicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near the gates of death. THEN…”
the pause is mine, “Selah”, because God’s children mess up! Just like the mamas and the papas and the children of the world,but do you want to see God…
“…then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses!” ( Ps. 107:19. exclamation point mine!)
Children, young and old, all the children of the world, ‘red, brown, yellow, black, and white’ you are all precious in His sight -“God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth…so they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being…”
(Acts 17:24-27).
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.” (Psalm 107:21,22).
“Lord, keep us safe…keep Your children THANKFUL! Because GOD, You are good!” in Jesus name, Amen.
Do I hear an “Amen?”
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