build on the right foundation

God’s Help

You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand. – Psalm 89:13 (ESV)

A basketball in my hands is worth a few dollars but a basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth Millions. It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands but it’s worth millions in Serena Williams Hands. It depends on which Hands it’s in.

A rod in my hand will only keep away an angry dog but a rod in Moses’ Hands will part the mighty red sea. It depends on whose Hands it’s in.

A slingshot in my hands is a toy but a slingshot in David’s Hands is a Mighty weapon.

It depends on whose Hands it’s in.

Two fish and 5 loaves in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches but two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus’ Hands will feed thousands. It depends on whose Hands they are in.

Nails in my Hands might produce just a Birdhouse but Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce Salvation for the entire world. It depends on whose Hands they are in. (author unknown)

God’s hand often symbolized God delivering His people. God’s arm represents His ability to accomplish His purpose. The psalmist knew of God’s mighty arm from His work in Creation. All of this is an expression of God’s Omnipotence. Meaning, God has all power. No Power compares to God’s power.  God has the power to help our families. A family that relies on God’s help is a family that is building on a great foundation.

Reflection

As you can see, it all depends on whose hands it’s in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families, and your relationships in God’s hands because…

It depends on whose Hands it’s in. Where are some places in Scripture where you see God’s power on display to help His children? When have you seen God use His power to help you?

Praise/Prayer

Praise God for His strong hands. Put anything in your life into His hands that isn’t already.

God’s Righteousness

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. – Psalm 89:14 (ESV)

According to the Chicago AP, years ago, people fell onto a bag of cash like a pack of hungry piranhas after more than $100,000 tumbled out the back of an armored truck onto a street. The bag split open after it fell off the back of the vehicle and the driver drove away without noticing. Workers at a nearby flower shop helped police gather up the money in boxes. Several people ended up bringing some of the cash into the police station. But only about $10,500 had been recovered by the end of the day, the Columbus Dispatch reported. “We’re hoping that more people do the right thing,” Whitehall Police Sergeant Randy Snider told the paper.

God always does the right thing. The psalmist claims that righteousness is part of the foundation of God’s throne. The idea here is, that the throne of God is founded on justice and right judgment; it is this which supports it; His administration is maintained because it is right.

God’s power is guided by the fact that He always does the right thing.

Reflection

Knowing God always does the right thing should make it easier to place your life in His hands. How does knowing God is righteous make it easier for you to trust Him?

 Praise/Prayer

Praise God for always doing what’s right. Ask Him to help you trust His righteousness in situations where you don’t understand.

God’s Justice

Justice“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10: 4 (ESV)

John Stott puts it in his book The Cross – the HOLY LOVE OF GOD. God himself judges us for our sin and finds us guilty. God, in Jesus, steps down from the judgment throne and pays the penalty on our behalf. Let me explain this with a story. A businessman was very good friends with a judge. But the businessman had been fiddling with the books. And one day, the businessman was found out and brought before the bench (e.g. put on trial). And who was on the bench that day but his good friend the judge? There were whispers around the Court. This will be a stitch-up as the judge and the defendant are good friends. But when the verdict was handed down, there was a hush in the room. The fine was draconian. It was over 1 million – the largest fine the Judge could give for the offense. And if the businessman didn’t pay it, he would go to prison until it was paid. The businessman couldn’t pay it, and was shocked. But as the jailers prepared to take him to prison, the judge took off his robes. As He stepped down from the Bench, he took out his checkbook. And he paid his friend’s fine in full. Justice had been served but grace prevailed.

Because God’s throne is also founded on justice, there must be a penalty for sin. No one gets away without paying the fine for sin. In order to satisfy justice, Jesus left His throne in heaven to come to earth and pay our sin debt. Again, grace prevailed.

Reflection

Pastor Jim mentioned in the sermon the place of righteousness and justice in our homes. What part of that conversation stood out the most to you?

Praise/Prayer

Praise Jesus for satisfying the justice of God by dying for your sins. Ask God to help you live in such a way that you exemplify His righteousness and justice in your home.

Thank God for giving us the weapons we need to win our spiritual battles.

God’s Love

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. – Psalm 89:14 (ESV)

A young lady, who occasionally walked through the park after work, stopped to have her picture taken by a photographer on this particular day. She was very excited about her picture being taken. As she walked out of the park, she looked at the Polaroid picture in total amazement. She turned and headed back to the cameraman. When she got there she stated, “This is not right! This is not right! You have done me no justice!” The photographer looked at the picture and looked at her and stated, “Miss, you don’t need justice, what you need is mercy.”

 In Psalm 89:14, the psalmist describes God’s steadfast love going before Him. God’s steadfast love is also translated as God’s mercy or loving-kindness. Over the last couple of days, we’ve reviewed God’s righteousness and justice. Pastor Jim talked about the need for a balance of love and mercy in our homes and righteousness and justice. God’s foundation includes all of those things and our homes should also include all of those things.

Reflection

Think of practical ways love and mercy can balance out with righteousness and justice in your home.

Praise/Prayer

The Bible says that God is Love. Praise God for being loving and merciful. Ask God for love and mercy to reign in your home.

God’s Faithfulness

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. – Psalm 89:14 (ESV)

A guest speaker talked about doing a lectureship several years ago at the Ohio State University. As he was being driven to the lecture, they passed what was then the “new” Wexner Art Center. The driver commented, “This is a new art building for the university. It is a fascinating building designed in the post-modernist view of reality.” The driver described this fascinating building. He said, “The building has no pattern. Staircases go nowhere. Pillars support nothing. The architect designed the building to reflect [the post-modernist view of] life. It went nowhere and was mindless and senseless.” The guest speaker said, “I turned to the man describing it and asked, ‘Did they do the same thing with the foundation?'” And the man laughed [and answered]: “You can’t do that with a foundation.”

Not only does a building need a foundation, but it also needs a solid foundation. So too, our homes need a solid foundation. There have to be intentionality and core values that shape our homes and our relationships. God’s faithfulness is part of who He always is. God is always faithful to His character, His promises, and to His people.

Reflection

How was faithfulness modeled in your home growing up? How can faithfulness make your home a more stable place?

Praise/Prayer

List some of the ways God has been faithful to you. Praise Him for His faithfulness.