The Sins of Youth

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love, which You have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love, for You are merciful, O Lord. Psalms‬ ‭25:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Oh dear! Those difficult days in my teen years, when I wore the badge of being a “youth”. When I said things that I shouldn’t. When I did things that hurt others. Those rebellious sins committed when I knew no better. The difficulties I encountered in those days seemed endless. But thanks to our Saviour Jesus, and His death on a cross outside Jerusalem, my youthful sins have been forgiven. But, sadly, the memories remain. Embarrassing. Uncomfortable. But why should they, because God no longer remembers them. As it says in Psalm 103:12, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” His grace, love and compassion is endless. So if I pray for forgiveness for a previously-confessed sin, God replies, “What sin? I can’t remember it.” God has forgotten it, because Jesus exchanged it for His righteousness at Calvary. Amazing. Humbling. There are not enough thankful words to describe the eternal consequences of His grace. I praise and thank You today for Your grace, love and mercy, Lord.

If you, the reader, are struggling with the weight of your sins today, reach out to our loving Heavenly Father for His forgiveness. And assure yourself a future with Him for eternity.

The Right Path

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.” Psalms‬ ‭25:4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Just for the asking, God will show us what road we should take in our pilgrimage through life. And how does He do that? According to the Psalmist David, He leads us in the right way through His truth. We have many choices in life and each one will equate in some way to “the right path”. Our choice of spouse, what career to follow, where to live – the choices before us seem endless. Sadly, sometimes a wrong choice leads to a limitation being placed on future choices. But coming back to our question about God showing us the right path, we often have a problem because, as it says in Judges 17:6, “…all the people [do] whatever [seems] right in their own eyes”. Often the strident calls of sin, of hedonistic ways, seem preferable to the “right path”.

So where do we find this “truth” that David writes about? The main source has to be God’s Word, the Bible. For it is here that the thoughts and ways of God are laid out before us. But sometimes a prophetic word from a brother or sister in our communities of faith will start the personal process of mining Biblical treasures to develop or research what God is saying to us about the choices before us.

At the end of verse 5 in today’s Psalm, David declares that his hope is in God – “all day long”. And that is the bottom line, because regardless what we come up against in our pilgrimages through life, our hope in God must prevail. This hope is the final seal on our choice to follow the “God who saves”.

Ancient Doors

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle.” Psalms‬ ‭24:7-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What are these “ancient doors” and “ancient gates”? The Psalmist, David, was perhaps alluding to the entrances in the walls of the ancient Jerusalem. But the thing that leapt out of the page to me was the importance of being open before God. You see, over time, I can become hardened and calloused to the things of God, fighting battles He never intended for me to fight. I remember those exciting days when I walked through the door from worldliness into God’s Kingdom. I came out of a dark place into one of light and clarity. A place where spiritual understanding finally emerged into my world of hopeless confusion. A place where Jesus took up residence in my heart. But over time I can lose the wonder of being in God’s Kingdom and forget what He has done for me. So perhaps the hinges and locks of my spiritual doors need some lubrication. Perhaps some repairs are also required, with thoughts and attitudes brought under the gaze of the Master Builder. But whatever is required, I need to be open before God, so that He can enter at any time. And the Lord, invincible in battle, will strengthen me in my pilgrimage through life, helping me to fight battles that otherwise would be too great for me to win.

So to myself this morning I say, “Open up ancient gates! Open up ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.”

A Mountain to Climb

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their Saviour. Such people may seek You and worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob.” Psalms‬ ‭24:3-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I heard yesterday that a man I know and love has a stage 4 cancer and is without any treatment options. He is only a young man in his thirties and is a fine Christian with a young family. The initial reaction I had was sadness for him and his family, but then I thought, of anyone I know, he ticks the boxes in the verses we read today. So I am going to help him climb the mountain that is before him, praying him through every challenge that he encounters. I know that God can heal him and restore him to his family. Please join me in praying for him, expectant that God will answer our prayers.

Psalm 23

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms‬ ‭23:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Much has been said and written about Psalm 23. This word picture of a man totally immersed in his relationship with God is an inspiration and source of comfort to many, and in particularly to grieving people at a graveside. But it describes a way of life that is so much more meaningful than a photograph pulled out of a drawer in a dark moment, and replaced when the storm has passed. David, the Psalmist, was in a relationship with God that totally shaped his life and personality. A 24/7 relationship that endured. Yes, he had his dark moments when God seemed absent or far away. And yes, he screwed up big time on occasion. But he always came home to his “house of the Lord” assured by God’s love and goodness. And his legacy is found in Jesus, the “Son of David”. An epitaph that encourages us all with its link between humanity and our Creator God. Through Jesus we have the same opportunity to write our own particular and personal version of Psalm 23. Our own story of our relationship with God that will encourage those of our generation, our family and friends, if we are willing to share it. David did, and so must we.

Generations

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Our children will also serve Him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything He has done.” Psalms‬ ‭22:30-31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is a wonder that the knowledge of God and all the things He has done will pass from one generation to the next. Worldly, man-made religions and associated organisations more often than not will peter out and disappear over time – the ancient Egyptian religion is but one example. But Christianity has prevailed and survived for over two millennia now and is growing strongly in some parts of the world, even though it is in decline in others. But the Word of God endures forever – because that is what God has ordained. It is the purity of the Word, and the “Word become flesh”, Jesus, that seals the relationship God has with mankind for eternity. Secular organisations and politicians here in the UK may try their best to stamp out Christianity and replace it with their own particular brand of “religion” but the Bible is quite clear about the eternal longevity of His Word. Here are two examples:

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:35‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So it isn’t surprising that “the wonders of the Lord” pass from one generation to the next. We will all leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren, the next generations. What will be mine? Hmmm…

Round Peg, Round Hole

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for ever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.”
Psalms‬ ‭19:7-9‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

Sadly, most people in my community, in my nation, neither read the Bible or have a relationship with God. But, to me, just reading these verses from Psalm 19 builds a picture of how closely human beings fit into God. A bit like a skilled carpenter making a joint, one piece of wood fitting precisely into another. It’s how we are designed. God made us to be a round peg in His round hole, fitting perfectly. We each have our own unique God-designed and built round hole and we can find out all about it by reading His Word and building a relationship with Him. And in the process we let God gently ease us into what He has for us, sandpapering off the bits that don’t fit. These verses tell us that by keeping close to God, learning in obedience about everything He has for us in His perfect design, then we will enjoy all we need for a full and fruitful life.

So why is it that human beings reject the unique and perfect round hole God has made for them, and instead design and build their own square holes. Then, when they try and fit into them, they wonder why their life becomes difficult. They wonder why their mental health suffers. They wonder why they seem to have constant struggles and problems, just getting through each day. Frank Sinatra’s legacy of “I’ll do it my way” has a lot to answer for.

God’s ways are perfect and when we embrace them, our souls truly will be refreshed. And we truly will experience a Godly “holeness”.

Apple of His Eye

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings”Psalms‬ ‭17:8‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

In Psalm 17, David was once again crying out to God from a position of danger from his enemies. In the Psalm, he started by asking God to examine him and declare him innocent of any sinful behaviour, and reminding God that he has followed His ways, keeping the faith. The latter half of the Psalm details what David would like God to do about his enemies. But in verses 6 and 7 David prays out to God to show him His great love, and he knows that God will answer him.

A wonderful and beautiful picture of the relationship between David and God is almost hidden in verse 8, where David asks God for protection. He asks his Father to keep him as the apple of His eye. The surface of an eye is convex so reflected images appear to be much smaller than they are in real life. David is asking God to keep a reflection of him, an “apple”, constantly in His eye, touchingly asking his Heavenly Father to watch over him. And this request is reinforced in the second half of the verse, where David asks God to hide him from his enemies, as a mother bird hides her chicks under her wings.

We too, through our relationship with God, can enjoy His protection and be “the apple of His eye”. We too can nestle under His wings of love. We have an amazing Heavenly Father who loves us with a depth far beyond our understanding. As the song lyrics declare, “What kind of love is this, Greater than all I’ve seen, Perfection bends to kiss, Unworthiness like me” (Phil Wickham).

Night School

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.” Psalms‬ ‭16:7-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A lot goes on while we are asleep. Our loving Heavenly Father knows our needs and overnight, because He is so close to us, He helps our innermost being, our “heart”, reset itself ready for the next day. How often have I placed my head on my pillow, thinking of some insoluble problem, only to find when I wake up, that a solution is waiting for me. But at other times, the problems I take to the pillow can often re-emerge in the early hours, debilitating and troubling.

Insomnia was not the norm for David. But it can be for many of us. David, the Psalmist, is able to declare his absolute trust in God because he knew Him. And because of that trust and knowledge he was able to face into anything his world threw at him, secure in his relationship with God. What an amazing place to be. And it is just as accessible for us. David developed that trust in God, because his loving Father looked after him. I look back in my life and I see those times where God has looked after me as well. God has always been right beside me – I only have to reach out and grab His hand if the terrors in the night keep me awake. And allow Him to reset my heart ready for the next day.

“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.”

A Cup of Blessing

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land You have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!” Psalms‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I wandered around the pathways of Dean Woods in the West of Fife this morning, appreciating the new Spring growth, the bird song, enjoying the sense of hope as creation awoke and reached out and up towards our amazing Creator God. Bluebells abound, and other wild flowers are starting to emerge. I’m keeping an eye on a patch of wild strawberries, interested to see how they will do this year. Surely this is a pleasant land. But the word “land” can apply to lots of things and especially to any blessing that God has given us. Even in concrete-slabbed suburbia, God’s blessings can be found, for the ultimate blessing is God Himself. He will one day replace our current inheritance, the natural world we know, with a new heaven and earth, our future inheritance. And what is to come is secure – God is guarding it. It cannot be stolen or destroyed.

So we can be thankful for the land God has given us. And we can be thankful for the inheritance that is waiting for us. And once there we will enjoy God’s limitless provision; a cup of blessing that will never be empty.