God’s Word is All that Matters.

Beloved, Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the LORD Jesus Christ. I hope this blog finds you in good health, and in good spirits. I do apologize for not getting this blog online in the usual time frame but I had a bit of technical difficulty. I have resolved the issue and I think I can proceed without further problems. The last time I wrote to you, I wrote about getting God’s approval. I hoped that the blog was a blessing to you. Today I would like to further the conversation just a bit. Approval is always a good thing. We want to feel that we are doing a good job, and let’s face it God is not the only person you want to hear it from. It makes all the difference, but sometimes a kind word from a colleague goes a long way, a kind word from your wife can be incredibly encouraging. Trust me I know, my wife is incredibly encouraging. Beloved, I want to caution you. While hearing from our loved ones that we did a good job is great, we will not always get their approval. When we do not get their approval, it does not mean that you are an utter failure. The reason is because our friends and loved ones do not define us. Let’s look at today’s text:

NRSV
Psa. 27:1         The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Once we have determined who defines us, external opinions do not hold the weight they once did. David the author of the Psalm says, The LORD is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I Fear? Light allows me to see. Light improves my vision. Once I have a clear perspective on who I am and who’s I am, another person’s perspective does not add to my own. For that to be possible I would need to see through their eyes. Since I do not, I would have to trust their vision of my life. I would have to trust someone else’s vision more than God’s perspective. The LORD is also my Salvation. The word Salvation carries this meaning in the Hebrew: liberty, deliverance, prosperity:—safety, salvation, saving. The LORD is my liberty, (I cannot ever be bound again) my deliverance, (I am free in the LORD) my prosperity, (The LORD guarantees I am not lacking in any situation) my safety, (no one can legitimately threaten me). If this is true, (and it is) WHOM SHALL I FEAR? That word fear in the Hebrew context also means respect. Many times we see the term ‘to fear God,’ it does not mean to be afraid of God but to respect him. So take a look at what David is saying in this light. The LORD is the reason I have a clear vision, and he is the reason for my liberty, my deliverance, my prosperity, my safety, why should I respect someone else’s opinion more than Gods’? We often time fall short of our purpose because we respect someone’s opinion more than God’s opinion. We respect someone else’s word more than God’s word.
Beloved, God’s word is all that matters. You can live on purpose because God protects you. The LORD is your stronghold. Other peoples approval is nice, but we can build our lives on them. Do not respect the word of anyone over God’s word. If they disapprove, remember they are not your stronghold, the LORD is. Live on Purpose, not by mistake, not by chance.