Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional and our Summer Inspiration series. Today, using another phrase from Psalm 46, we consider the unstoppable truth that God’s will and mission cannot fail.
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‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.’ Psalm 46:10-11)
Oftentimes we can have storms in our hearts and minds. I would suggest that most of our lack of peace is due to how we view things rather than what is actually happening to us or around us! One storm that I’m sure we all have to endure are the feelings of failure and that we are not doing enough for God. Today’s Psalm gives us some keys on how to handle this accusation.
Be still in the gospel
When assaulted with fear and condemnation the first thing we must do is ‘be still’. As we are still, we will hear the promises of God freshly impressed upon our hearts. A moment in God’s presence can transform how we feel about things, without our circumstances changing at all! In our stillness, we are reminded that we are saved only because we have taken ‘refuge’ in Jesus. In one sense all of life is to be lived in the stillness of never having to contribute anything to our righteousness! In the gospel is still water!
Be still in the promise that the success of our mission is God’s responsibility
Those who are still will also be alleviated of the accusation of failure in regard to evangelism. One of the promises that God wants us to rest in is that ‘I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’ This is a promise that the gospel will spread to all nations and that, in the end, God’s Kingdom will fill a renewed earth - the promises of Habakkuk and Isaiah will be fulfilled:
‘For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.’ (Habakkuk 2:14)
‘For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.’ (Isaiah 9:6-7)
I love the way that God promises that the fulfilment of His mission is not dependent on us; we are told, rather, that ‘The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.’ We are, of course, to do all that we can to obey The Great Commission as we saw in an earlier devotional; however, our success and confidence are in the promises and truth that ‘The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.’
So, today, let’s ‘be still’ in the gospel; let’s also ‘be still’ and receive fresh encouragement to keep going as missionaries to this dark world as we leave all success with God and hear afresh:
‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations!’
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday, based upon Psalm 46, encouraged us to remember that ‘The Lord of Hosts’ - God Almighty - is with us. Even in the most trying storms of life we are encouraged to ‘Be still and know that I am God’. Like the disciples in the stormy sea with Jesus asleep in the boat, we are to know that He’s with us and has the authority to speak stillness over any storm.
Please read Psalm 46
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What would you say are the main teaching points of this Psalm?
46:4 - What is the ‘river’ and how can we enter into the ‘gladness’ that’s mentioned here?
46: 7, 11 - What does it mean for God to be ‘The Lord of Hosts’ and how is this a help in our lives?
4:10 - What does this teach about the final success of the gospel?
SIV - What attitudes and beliefs does this Psalm teach that lead us into successful mission?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
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