The Plumbline

Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. (Psalm 138:6) The Lord's care is upon us - we may be among those who proclaim all manner of success and greatness, but all greatness comes from within God's heart and the change he makes within ours. The humble have submitted their hearts to God. They know their purpose is found in him - not the successes of this world. Scripture reminds us God actually 'opposes' the proud, but he gives abundance grace to the humble. We should never put ourselves in a place of being opposed by God. His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience will always be greater than the proud can endure. Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. (Psalm 138:7) The power of God actually sets us up for 'success' against our enemies and every opposing force that attempts to come against us...

The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. Yet their message reaches all the earth , and it travels around the world. In the heavens a tent is set up for the sun. It rises like a bridegroom and gets ready like a hero eager to run a race. It travels all the way across the sky. Nothing hides from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6) We might be amazed with each sunrise, sunset, and the phases of the moon! Why? They are simply doing what they were designed to do - to keep telling the wonders of God and declaring boldly what he has done! They declare his creative power and his ability to sustain all things with nothing more than the sound of his voice! This should give us cause to pause for just a few moments to consider his greatness and to bask in his brilliance! When we think of the sun and the moon, we are...

Lord, your word continues forever in heaven. You are loyal forever and ever. You made the earth, and it still stands. All things continue today because of your laws. Like slaves, they all obey you. (Psalm 119:89-91) God's care and watchfulness keep all things in this state of continual renewal. It is a little appreciated fact that God's breath animates the world around us, keeping the things in alignment within the universe, making the tides swell and recede. The very watchfulness of God should give us encouragement in the dark times when we think there is nothing going as it should, or the high and impenetrable walls of stress are closing in around us. There is nothing which exists or continues in its existence (and this includes us), which doesn't do so because he has made it possible for it to exist! Like it or not, suffering is part of life. We are not exempt from the troubles of life that occur by being inside a human body subject to the aging process. We aren'...