Day 288
Psalm 2:11-12
"Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him."
In Psalm 2, the writer exalts the Lord as he declares the futility of those who would oppose God. He mentioned how the Lord laughs at those who come against God and His anointed ones. The exhortation in verses 11 and 12 indicates that God is not to be taken lightly. It also concludes that those who trust in Him are blessed. The same might and power that makes the enemies of God tremble is the same might and power that is available to aid those who are committed to Him.
It is important to know that the wrath of God is reserved for His enemies, not for His children. As people who trust in the Lord, we need never be afraid that the wrath of God will be poured out against us. If we walk out of the will of God, we may open the door for the devil to attack us. However, God waits to help us, not to destroy us. If we sin, He waits to restore us, not to judge us. If we suffer for our wrongdoing, we are not experiencing the wrath of God. It is the consequences of walking in enemy territory unprotected. It is so important that we understand this so we can know where to run when we suffer for our foolishness. If we see God as someone wanting to pour out His wrath on us, we will run from Him. If we realize He is waiting to help us and restore us, we will run to Him.
The only time we would have reason to be afraid of God is when we choose to become His enemy. If we choose to fight against Him by coming against His anointed, we are crossing the line. Even so, if we come to our senses and truly repent, He will still forgive us and have mercy on us. Whatever we have to suffer will be made easier, however, because of His grace.
Let us remember the instructions we have been given in the Word. I John 1:9 NIV says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." It is a trick of the devil to convince us that God is against us. He wants us to sink further into sin and run from the One who loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us. Let us not support the devil's efforts to get back at God and destroy us. God is on our side.
If I sin or fall short in any way, I will run to God and not away from Him. He is a terrible force to those who oppose Him, but He uses His power for the benefit of those who trust in Him.