Week Four - Day Three: End of Day

Haven’t the text over the last two days been very cool? What is it about these guys who go by initials? I’ve been seriously considering that. In my case, it seems perfect because my initials are M. E., and after all, it is all about …

Anyway, we talked this morning about the importance of thinking rightly about God. Tonight, I need to be reminded just how important the exhortation to think rightly about God really is. You see, how we understand God profoundly affects who we are and how we see life.

Who We Are

I like the way A. W. Tozer put it. “We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.” Pause over that thought for a moment. In other words, we grow and we evolve and we make choices in the direction of what we think about God. Man, we better get this right.

Tozer went further. He said that if you could really show him someone’s concept of God, he could pretty well predict their future. Could it be that our reach isn’t higher because we don’t have a high enough view of God?

How We See Life

Along with its impact on who we are, our view of God also has a profound impact on how we see life. How do you handle yourself in crisis? How do you handle yourself in relationship? What drives you and how driven are you? All of these, and more, are, at least in part, determined by how you see God.

Take the Pharisees in the New Testament. If you know the stories of Jesus, then you know that these guys are usually the villains in the story. And for good reason. They don’t get it! They’re always standing on the outside of God’s activity looking in – correcting, complaining, looking down their noses. And the core of their complaint seems to be: “God doesn’t act this way. God is about rules and regulations and you aren’t following the rules.” And because of the way they see God, they missed him when he showed up! When God squeezed Himself into human skin, the most religious guys on the block completely missed it – all because of how they saw God!

Whether I am critical and hard to be around or encouraging and uplifting to others – my view of God profoundly affects this. Whether I am completely undone in difficult times or whether I am able to navigate crises with grace – my view of God profoundly affects this. And the same for a very long list of characteristics.

1. Lets get a picture of the impact that a clear view of God can have. Read Psalm 73:1-17.

(1) Surely God is good to Israel,
      to those who are pure in heart.

(2) But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
      I had nearly lost my foothold.

(3) For I envied the arrogant
      when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

(4) They have no struggles;
      their bodies are healthy and strong.

(5) They are free from the burdens common to man;
      they are not plagued by human ills.

(6) Therefore pride is their necklace;
      they clothe themselves with violence.

(7) From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
      the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

(8) They scoff, and speak with malice;
      in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

(9) Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
      and their tongues take possession of the earth.

(10) Therefore their people turn to them
      and drink up waters in abundance.

(11) They say, "How can God know?
      Does the Most High have knowledge?"

(12) This is what the wicked are like—
      always carefree, they increase in wealth.

(13) Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
      in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

(14( All day long I have been plagued;
      I have been punished every morning.

(15) If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
      I would have betrayed your children.

(16) When I tried to understand all this,
      it was oppressive to me

(17) till I entered the sanctuary of God;
      then I understood their final destiny.

1. Through the first 16 verses notice how out of whack the Psalmist has gotten.
2. Then notice the correction that comes in verse 17. How does this course correction happen?
2. End your day by praying: “Guide us waking and guard us sleeping that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.”
3. Lights out!