Category: Upcoming Event

William Tyndale, an early 16th Century British reformer, who translated the New Testament into English against fierce opposition and ultimately martyred because of it, wrote:

“The Scripture urges us to do good, not in order to win God’s love but to do good because God loves us. Faith naturally results in good works. If good works are not the result, then it is only a dream, an opinion, a pretension of faith. Notice that fruit does not make a tree good. Fruit is testimony that the tree is good already.”

How true this is even today. Many people think in reverse that if we do good things, God will love us. We are already loved. God doesn’t love us more if we do good. Actually, he can’t love us more. He is love and that love is unconditional and constant. This is where we start. Any action stems from that love, because of that love; not to earn what can’t be earned.

If this is your struggle, stop trying to earn what can’t be earned. Before you do anything, allow the Holy Spirit to saturate your being with how much you are loved—not because of any action, but simply because God is love. In fact, stay in that state of being as long as needed. Don’t worry about your actions, they will come soon enough.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

What are we to make of these words from Psalm 94?
The Lord is a God who avenges.
    O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;
    pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, Lord, will the wicked,
    how long will the wicked be jubilant?
4 They pour out arrogant words;
    all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, Lord;
    they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the foreigner;
    they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “The Lord does not see;
    the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
    you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
    Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
    Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows all human plans;
    he knows that they are futile.
12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
    the one you teach from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,
    till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not reject his people;
    he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

How does one handle this harsh language of what some call a psalm of wrath or vengeance? One first must understand this psalm is to attempt to take justice and righteousness, and conversely injustice and sin, as seriously as God does. God turns against evil because of what evil does to God’s good creation—it destroys or perverts it. Because God loves creation so much, it is a natural reaction to turn against that which would destroy what is dearly loved.  

In this psalm, we read the level of moral outrage to injustice and evil. Love has a goal for the object of that love to be better in every way. When that goal isn’t reached or actualized, the lover will do what is necessary for the object of love to reach that goal. This is not mean-spirited but the willingness of one to go to great lengths for another’s wholeness.  

I like what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “I pray the imprecatory psalms in the certainty of their marvelous fulfillment.  I leave the vengeance to God.” If I leave it to God, then I don’t have to worry about its fulfillment. That is something for God to do…and God alone.   

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6