Reading
SAA Notes
“If the Lord had not been on our side …” The opening words of Psalm 124 follow reflection on the past. We find God’s doings, His footprints on the sand of the past. Such reflection is a catalyst to present faith.
SJA Notes
* Creator God, our help is in Your Name, You who made heaven and earth.
“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;”
IN VAIN we rise up early and sleep late. IN VAIN we build our houses, our societies, our relationships. IN VAIN we weave our protection and build our walls and guard our watch … UNLESS.
Unless what?
Unless the LORD BUILDS, unless the LORD WATCHES.
Do we go to work in vain?
Not if the LORD is on our side!
Do we build our relationships in vain, befriends those who don’t follow Jesus, loving family who don’t believe?
Not if the LORD is with us! Not if He is guiding us, His word being written on our hearts, His Spirit at work.
Jesus gives a hard word in Luke 12 of the other side of the coin, the vanity of living a life in opposition to God, in the parable of the rich man who has lots of barns,
“Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
IN VAIN do we build outside of God.
Whether it is globe-spanning empires or just creating a little place for our own selves while walking through this life.
God’s word is clear – We live in vain if we live outside of Him.
In Jesus we find the best life, one of purpose and direction. One of great hope and an assured inheritance waiting for us.
Let us be encouraged to point those around us to Jesus – Because outside of Him this life is vanity; but WITH HIM life is to the full!
* Great God Above,
We bring You praise – For in You true life is found. Thank You Lord!
Thank You that we can experience life when we are found in Jesus, when He is our King, when we have our sins dealt with through His once-for-all sacrifice.
Thank You Lord!
Amen.