Advent - Day 29
Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16
Full Readings: Psalm 16, Acts 2:29–36
Do fish enjoy swimming?
Ok, that got you thinking.
One of the aspects of human life that seems to separate us from other kinds of God’s creation is our ability to enjoy life. Now, I’m not saying that dogs (for instance) don’t experience something like human enjoyment. But I think it’s fairly clear that the human experience is vastly different to a dogs.
Why is that? Why can we enjoy music, food, hobbies, entertainment etc.? Why do we? Boxing day is often a day of enjoyment. Food and fun with friends and family. Cricket anyone?
Psalm 16 reminds us that pleasure actually comes from God. We were made to enjoy things in life and God created many things for us to enjoy. Otherwise, the world would be a very different place. But God created mountains to be hiked. Lakes and oceans to be swam in. Animals to be played with (or hunted!?). He even made technology possible.
But He made us to enjoy these things in a particular way. With our eyes always on the Lord. Finding our refuge in Him. What we weren’t made to do was find enjoyment in created things alone. To make the pursuit of our life enjoyment at the expense of God.
How do we enjoy life with God? This is a really hard and complex conversation. Beyond what we can do in one blog post. Let’s leave it at this for today. Enjoy Boxing Day and whatever Christmas break your work allows. Enjoy the food and the fun. But keep your eyes on God. Give thanks to Him and honour Him in the way you enjoy the created things of this world.
For Today:
Pray:
for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16
Full Readings: Psalm 16, Acts 2:29–36
Do fish enjoy swimming?
Ok, that got you thinking.
One of the aspects of human life that seems to separate us from other kinds of God’s creation is our ability to enjoy life. Now, I’m not saying that dogs (for instance) don’t experience something like human enjoyment. But I think it’s fairly clear that the human experience is vastly different to a dogs.
Why is that? Why can we enjoy music, food, hobbies, entertainment etc.? Why do we? Boxing day is often a day of enjoyment. Food and fun with friends and family. Cricket anyone?
Psalm 16 reminds us that pleasure actually comes from God. We were made to enjoy things in life and God created many things for us to enjoy. Otherwise, the world would be a very different place. But God created mountains to be hiked. Lakes and oceans to be swam in. Animals to be played with (or hunted!?). He even made technology possible.
But He made us to enjoy these things in a particular way. With our eyes always on the Lord. Finding our refuge in Him. What we weren’t made to do was find enjoyment in created things alone. To make the pursuit of our life enjoyment at the expense of God.
How do we enjoy life with God? This is a really hard and complex conversation. Beyond what we can do in one blog post. Let’s leave it at this for today. Enjoy Boxing Day and whatever Christmas break your work allows. Enjoy the food and the fun. But keep your eyes on God. Give thanks to Him and honour Him in the way you enjoy the created things of this world.
For Today:
- What’s one thing you enjoy that is good?
- What is one thing you enjoy that isn’t helpful or God glorifying?
- Give thanks today for the things God created for our enjoyment.
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He is the glorious creator.
- Give thanks for Jesus who restores us so that we can enjoy this world rightly.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others keep your eyes on God as you enjoy the Christmas season.
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