Trivia:
Have you noticed, the evenings have become cooler, and therefore the day rises in temperature to a more reasonable temperature. The cooling of the ocean breezes each afternoon and evening are a welcome guest in our lives.
Well I must admit that I was totally surprised when I found out who invented the scissors. I thought for sure it was Thomas Edison because he invented a number of innovations that benefited the common household. If you ever have the opportunity to visit his home you would be quite surprised at them. However, believe it or not, the inventor of the everyday household tool, the scissors was Leonardo de Vinci.
Here is another nugget of reality for us; Which city in Florida is known as "The City in the country?" Is it Jacksonville; Coral Springs; Orlando; Miami. Make your guess, I was surprised myself as to which city was known for this.
Challenge:
Psalm 40:16,17 "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The Lord is great!" 17 As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in His thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.
This morning let us look at the importance of placing value on the things that truly matter in life. In these last few verses David reminds us of just what we should place value on.
The first truth that David guides us to is; When we are lost in our daily life and are in need of reflecting on these important thoughts, we should first of all, reflect on the greatest riches that we can enjoy in life, due to our Father's presence, Joy and gladness. Now for a minute think about these two gifts that are ours as His chosen children.
JOY, but what is the important quality of this gift? Well, for one it is our ability to know that regardless of what the immediate future holds, He has something very special in mind for us in the coming days to enjoy. Whether that is in our present life or not, He certainly lays before us heaven and all of its joys. But the word used here is a present gift. We don't know what this new day is going to hold, but we do know that His very presence in our life is joy unspeakable.
GLADNESS, this gift speaks to the promises of this very day. We may not know what this day will hold but He promises that it will be something of immense value. This word that is before us, gladness, reminds us that regardless of the struggles that lie before us today, they will in fact open up for us an inner fulfillment, richness that's is humanly indescribable.
These two gifts are so amazing that the outcome of their realization, will fill our hearts and minds with this proper conclusion in our soul of "The Lord is great." In other words beyond any earthly reality.
Then David brings us back to this truth. Where he finds himself; poor and needy.
Now first POOR; please don't think that he is speaking of poor in the sense that he is penniless. For remember he is speaking as the king of one of the richest nations. No he is speaking as a man who has been humbled, He has faced several events that have forced him to recognize his failures; his very own son attempting to kill him and then become king, his loss of a most precious gift, a baby, the inner conflict of many of his family towards one another, to name a few reasons for his being humbled.
Now the next thought is NEEDY, but we may think; Just how could David think he is best described as needy? After all, many powerful kings, and queens are constantly traveling great distances to learn from Him, to be given some insights into life as to how they can cause their nations to become as powerful as Israel.
Well, the next verse gives to us insight into just how he considered himself needy. He had come to the realization that he needed God's constant assistance in being guided through the challenges of his life.
Secondly, he also needed the daily saving work of Christ in his life, for without that he was faced with failure, loss, and sorrow. At the same time until we come to this complete and full understanding in our own life, that David had come too, we will toil without the joy and gladness that only God can give.
SO GO WITH GOD for He promises to be our helper and savior.
Coral Springs