"THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO ..." Bible Reading Thoughts for March 21st

    All three Psalms (145-147) and our chapter in Luke (12) today were greatly thought provoking; a great number of verses were very challenging – personally – to read.  Some people are sceptical of the statement, “the LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works” [Psa.145 v.17] cynically saying that if there is such a God who is all powerful, he should stop bad things from happening, especially to good people.

    The verses which follow help us to correct our thinking from such ‘tunnel vision.’  They tell us, “The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.  He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.  The LORD preserves all who love him …” [v.18-20] Look at the lives of those who really served God such as Paul, how true are these words of his life after he was converted.

    Some only call on God when circumstances in their life are getting desperate; but they have no ‘rock’ established in their minds as a firm foundation for an unshakeable belief in God.  They have not been calling “upon him in truth”?   How many do?  The next Psalm (146) tells us, “put not your trust in princes, in … man in whom there is no salvation.  When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans (thoughts) perish” [v.3,4] Yet how many are trying to find “princes,” leaders, they hope they can have confidence in!  They soon lose confidence in the leaders they elect.

    Only those who genuinely love God and show that love in how they live their lives have a future beyond the grave.  In Luke we saw how Jesus told his disciples “do not be anxious about your life … what you will eat …nor be worried … instead seek his kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.” [v.22,29,31] They will be wonderfully “added” when his kingdom comes.  Finally, we noticed a special verse in the 147^th Psalm, “the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” [v.11]  May we all live so that our Lord takes pleasure