Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- December 19, 2011
“The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14
It is hard to get up when you have fallen, especially if there is extreme fatigue and fear. Relationally you may have fallen in your marriage, because of unfaithfulness. Financially you may have fallen, because of the deceit of debt. Morally you may have fallen, because of a series of unwise decisions. Spiritually you may have fallen, because the cares of this world choked out your confidence in Christ.
Fallen people are vulnerable to giving up, but are in reality some of the best candidates for God’s grace. You may have been pushed down by the proud and dominant. This is man’s method of control, but the Lord is always there to lift and uphold you. What God lifts up He supports, sustains and restores for His purposes. Indeed, He lifts us up, so we can be His instruments of encouragement to lift up others.
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2
Like fallen comrades in war, we have an obligation to come along side and see how we can help fallen friends. It may be a tourniquet of trust or a canteen of care that gives life. Look around you and observe those who have fallen and need lifting up. Be aggressive to administer God’s grace at their point of need, for this grows the faith of the fallen.
Banks and borrowers are drowning in debt. Single parents are not sure how they will provide for their children. Widows and widowers wonder what the future holds. A friend or relative is out of work, embarrassed and losing hope. You can best lift up the fallen by first leading them to lean on the Lord. Buy them bread, but bring them a Bible.
“He [Jesus] said, ‘Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.'” Luke 11:46 (The Message)
Pay their rent, but invite them into your home for a meal. Show them how to live life that is truly life, by serving them. Christians are on call to care in a crisis. The fallen need faith that their Heavenly Father loves them. He loves for He is love. The old hymn declares, “Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me.”
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; upon them he has set the world.” I Samuel 2:8
Who in my life is needy, whom I can lift up on behalf of the Lord?
Related Readings: Psalm 3:3; 113:7; Luke 1:52; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6
Post/Tweet this today: Be aggressive to administer God’s grace for this grows the faith of the fallen… #grace
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Thank You once again for “being Jesus with skin on” to me through your words. God is using your words at just the right time that I need to lift me up during some really tough times and remind me of who He is!
With much appreciation and gratefulness!
Beverly