“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7
Dear Ones:
There is what we might call, “the progression of faith,” in the Christian life. In the beginning of our walk with Christ, one is often more preoccupied with running from sin, than walking with the Lord. The concept and reality of the wrath of God, and the avoidance of it, seemingly outweighs the love of God, and being conformed to His eternal purpose. One is so often so preoccupied with the principles and precepts of Christianity, than we are about the PERSON of Christianity…Christ. It often takes time, and experience, to come to truly and profoundly grasp that Jesus Christ is not only”…a shadow of things to come,” but the very “body,” or essence. He IS Christianity.
One of the great values of reading and studying the Psalms is that we are brought face to face with believers who have gone before us, and LIVED the reality of “Christian” experience. We say “Christian” because Christ was the object of their faith then, as He is now. In Hebrews 11 and 12, we read about those who have lived by faith throughout the ages. We then are called upon to “…look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (v.2) This same Christ of the New Testament is that of the Old Testament. Hence, the lessons of Psalm 37 apply to us today. What then is this experience of “faith’s progression?”
In Psalm 37, the Psalmist begins by calling us to AVOID the distraction of being preoccupied with those who will not believe in God, but who persist in being “workers of iniquity.” We are then called upon to adopt an all-inclusive and focused attitude of faith on God alone, as our hope and trust. Fixing our eyes on Jesus means that we “set the Lord always before us.” It also means that we “set our affection on things above.” We are not to be deterred by the works, and wickedness of this world, but with eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus, wholly live in expectant faith in Him. The Psalmist goes on to the matter of finding one’s delight in God, rejoicing in Him, and consequently, being satisfied in Him. To that one God gives the desires of his or her heart. Thirdly, there is the matter of committing to God the way before us, a deliberate act, followed by an attitude, whereby we place the government of our lives on the shoulders of the Lord. We are not only God’s possession by virtue of our position IN CHRIST, but we are His because we have committed to Him the ultimate responsibility of our lives. This act is followed by an attitude every day. There is daily bread, a daily cross, and a daily meeting, and walk with God.
Lastly, the Psalmist calls us to “REST in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” (v.7) What does this mean, and is it an easy matter to do? For salvation, the one who would find true, eternal rest of mind and soul, is that one who has “rested from his works.” He has ceased trying to produce, by his own efforts and means, that which “might” win for him salvation. He has in a very real sense, “…laid them all down.” The same is true in this daily life of faith. There is the “rest of faith” when we fully relinquish the control and conclusion of all things to Christ. The whole purpose of this exercise and commitment is to bring us to wholly trust in Christ, and Christ alone, for things great and small. The wonderful reward of “waiting on God” is that He answers prayer and intervenes in the life.
Dear Father, teach us this progression of faith. Bring us beyond drinking just milk to eating meat, ceasing to be children, in order to become men and women of faith. Bring us to that place of rest, of surrendering all to Thee specifically, and embracing Thee as the One who will NEVER fail us or forsake us. We thank Thee and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad