Psalm 30
January 30
When believers are down, it is so comforting to know God is
there. But God is not only the God of the down and out. There are times of
great elations for the believer and David had been through some tough times and
now was at a point of jubilation: the prayerful dedication of his new home.
If unbelievers can rejoice at joyful times, what is the
difference for believers? Much in every way, as David shows. While others at
times of celebration can point to perhaps their own good fortune or to the
results of their own hard work, or even in praise to others who help get them achieve
success, a believer can do these but ultimately must direct the attention to
God (see Psalm 30:1).
We remember from where we have come. Even the child of a millionaire
who has perhaps never faced adversity or failure, if they truly have come to
God, must acknowledge that our Lord has forgiven our sins and thus has lifted
us up. Being saved by grace alone evaporates pride and "self-elevating
bootstraps." A child of God knows that joy especially in the midst of prosperity
(Psalm 30:6) is never external only but internally placed by divine implantation.
My good mentor, Pastor and Missionary Dwight Hendrick, would
always say that as wonderful as going to heaven will be, there is something marvelous
that we cannot do in heaven that we can do here on earth: Tell unbelievers of the amazing
grace of God (see Ps. 30:9). He now has gone on to heaven, but in a sense, he
is still telling the story…through me, through others whom he impacted.
