Spending time in God’s Word is an antidote to fretting about the state of the world. Which is, of course, full of people who are fretting about many things. But the believer looks to God in the face of the world’s craziness, and when we do, we find strength, not anxiousness. Today’s excerpt from The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart is found on page 201:
“These days, many of the political, intellectual, scientific, cultural, economic, academic, and military leaders of the world act as if they have little or no responsibility toward, or regard for, the God of Scripture.
“In fact, this is not an act at all. It’s simply the way contemporary men and women have come to view the proceedings of history and the world. God may or may not exist; but, even if He does, He doesn’t interfere in the affairs of men and nations, people and things. He’s only about comforting us in our times of trial – if we’re so weak as to require such comforting.
“But since there are an awful lot of affairs of men and nations, as well as people and things, somebody has to make sense of all this and give direction to it. Which is where many of today’s movers-and-shakers have positioned themselves. Deceived by spiritual forces of wickedness in high places, full of themselves and their ideas and schemes, slaves to the Lie, and determined to secure a spread in the pages of history, world leaders and their followers rage in vain against the sovereign God of heaven and earth, Who made them, loves them, and cares for them in minute detail, even despite their scorn for and denial of Him.
“How does the Lord in heaven respond to this state of affairs? Does He just ignore it and hope it won’t affect Him? Does He wring His hands and fret like His people do, worried about infringements on their religious liberties, constraints on their freedom of speech, or whether their latest version of worship is just not sufficiently hip to make the lost world like them?
“Hardly. As the nations rage and rail against Him, God simply laughs.”
For reflection or discussion
1. Why does God laugh at the folly of the nations and their leaders?
2. Look at Psalm 2. Where does God point the rulers of the nations? What does this mean for us?
It’s easy for us to forget how puny we are. Insignificant specks in a vast cosmos, occupying time for less than an eternal moment, yeah, it’s easy to forget. But God doesn’t forget, and in His Word He reminds us, puny specks though we are, that He loves us, has made us in His image, and has important work for us to do. Now that’s something to talk about! Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to encourage one another in your holy puniness. Your copy of The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart is waiting for you at The Ailbe Bookstore, either in book form or a free PDF download.
T. M. Moore
