Where Do I Fit?

Jane L. Fryar

Where Do I Fit?

The vision of CTA isto see Christians highly effective

in their ministry so that Christ’s Kingdomis strengthened and expanded.

Where Do I Fit?

Jane L. Fryar

Copyright © 2018 CTA, Inc.1625 Larkin Williams Rd.

Fenton, MO 63026www.CTAinc.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a re-trieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of CTA, Inc.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing min-istry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Psalm 46 strikes a chord of realism. It does not deny that God’s people will encounter troubled times, but it promises peace despite life’s storms, courage in the face of life’s distresses, and hope even in the direst circumstances:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Each day this week, prayerfully read Psalm 46 from your Bible. As you do, notice the plural pronouns—our, we, us.

The Lord of hosts is with us—and he has drawn us into a worldwide faith family that spans countless generations. We are never alone!

At Peace

Monday

Tumultuous Times

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1–2

Chicken Little famously ran through the streets shouting, “The sky is falling!” Henny Penny, Turkey Lurkey, and a host of other friends believed the message and spread the word. Turns out, it wasn’t the sky—only an acorn.

As God’s people in North America today, it’s easy to fall prey to panic. Popular culture grows ever more hostile to our beliefs. Outspoken atheists raise stale, yet seemingly convincing, objections to the faith. Churches shrink. Scandals threaten.

Who could blame us if we feel besieged, bedeviled, or bewildered?

But we need not be. The Lord sees. He knows. He cares. He sends his Word to bolster our confidence. We need not despair. Despite appearances, the sky is not falling.

Someday soon, though, it will roll up like a scroll (Revelation 6:14). Our Savior will return. Every heart will know the truth. Every knee will bow before our Creator-King as his majesty, grace, and justice are revealed (Philippians 2:9–11).

On that day, our lives will be transformed in ways we cannot now imagine. On that day, the faith family

on earth will be united with the faith family of heaven—never to be separated again.

We take great courage from this sure-and-certain hope. And we look for ways to encourage other believers—especially those from our own church. Together, we remember that Jesus is now and will forever be our refuge, our strength, our very present help. And so, we remain . . .

Steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord [our] labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Lord Jesus, I admit it. As I think about your Church on earth, even sometimes as I think about my own congregation, fear floods my heart. Make me a true encourager at church. Teach me how to bring hope and joy into each troubling situation . . .

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Tuesday

Take Me to the River

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. Psalm 46:4

Brooks, streams, and rivers crisscross the pages of the Bible. In the beginning, for instance, four rivers flowed out of Eden—the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates (Genesis 2:10–14). John the Baptist preached on the banks of the Jordan (Matthew 3:4–6). In heaven, a crystalline river will forever flow across the landscape (Revelation 22:1–2).

Many of these rivers are literal, but some are deeply symbolic. Psalm 46, for instance, pictures a river that brings joy everywhere it flows. Its description in Psalm 46 brings to mind these words of Jesus:

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive. John 7:37–39

There is a river . . .

When we are sick, sad, hurt, or confused, we can retreat to its banks. There, our thirst for peace, for certainty, for joy is quenched:

Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14

This river flows in you and from you. Wherever this river flows, it brings life (Ezekiel 47:9)—especially as you speak words of hope and courage in Jesus to those who sit beside you in worship week by week.

So don’t dam up the river by cool disinterest. Don’t gossip or form factions. There is a river! Let it flow freely!

Because this river flows in and through all believers, we have the honor of bearing witness to those around us about Jesus the Savior. All of us in every faithful congregation share that honor (John 15:26–27)!

Take me, Lord Jesus, to the river of life! In your cross, forgive my apathy and my timid words of witness. Refresh, renew, and reenergize me for your service, especially in my own congregation, when . . .

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Wednesday

Promises and Promises

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. Psalm 46:5

How about that?! In just this one verse from Psalm 46, we find three specific promises:

■ God is with his people, his Church. Always! Whenever we come together, our Lord is in our midst to support, reassure, and defend us. His presence is a great blessing.

■ We will not be pulled off our foundation. The Lord will see to that. No matter how heavy the storm, the Church of God will weather it.

■ Help is on the way! Right now, we may sow the seed of the Word in tears, but shouts of joy will one day flood our ears (Psalm 126:5).

These three promises rest on one hard truth. The Church on earth will encounter opposition. Individual believers will never live lives free from trouble, pain, and trials. Jesus himself said as much:

In the world you will have tribulation. John 16:33

Do you want to be perpetually disappointed? Then expect the world system around us to roll out the welcome mat for the message of sin and grace we proclaim. Expect your congregation to be trouble-free, prosperous, and popular.

In this world we will have tribulation. Even so, cynicism is never in order, for in the very same breath, our Savior tells us:

Take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Jesus Christ has overcome—by the blood of his cross. He has taken the punishment of our sins upon himself, removing our guilt forever. He has defanged the lies of Satan. He has destroyed death’s dominion.

Therefore, we can take heart. We can speak and serve with good courage! We need not despair and we will not fail! Our Savior stands beside us and works through us. No one can steal the victory he himself has given us.

Lord Jesus, teach me and all believers, especially the members of my congregation, to lean more and more fully on your promises. Stir our courage, our boldness, and our joy, knowing you can and will do what you have promised. Amen.

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Thursday

Merry Christmas!

Come, behold the works of the LORD. . . . He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. Psalm 46:8–9

Just imagine! Every uniform worn by every soldier in every army on earth consigned to an incinerator. Every weapon scrapped and melted down. Every battleship sunk. Every nuclear missile silo cemented shut. Imagine!

That’s the picture the psalmist paints for us. And it’s no pipe dream! Isaiah 9:5–6 foretells the coming of the Prince of Peace:

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We often hear this prophecy in church at Christmastime, but the peace Jesus brings is not just for Christmas.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace who was born for us, who died for us, and who rose again for us. He brings the settled peace of sins forgiven, the peace of knowing we are children of God—for now and forever.

But we do not always feel all that peaceful, do we?We must live in the “now,” even as we look forward to the “not yet.”

Right now, we are God’s holy people. Right now, we belong to God’s family by faith in Jesus. Right now, peace and victory are ours. Our Welcome Home parade has been scheduled.

But we are not home yet.

So for now we look forward to the day when there will be no blue-star families, no gold-star families. We look forward to life in our Father’s perfect home where the celebration will never end.

Until you come, Lord Jesus, keep all of us in your Church clear-eyed, wise, and strong in you. Teach us to love as you love. Then help us to work together in love to proclaim you as Savior and Lord. Amen.

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Friday

In the Stillness

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Psalm 46:11

“How many times do I have to say this?” If you’re a parent or teacher, you have probably asked that question. Repeatedly!

We repeat ourselves when others forget what we’ve said or when they seem to be ignoring it.

It’s interesting to note the many times the Lord repeats himself in Scripture. In Psalm 46, for instance, verses 7 and 11 are identical. Then, as now, the Holy Spirit would remind his people of what we so easily forget, overlook, or even ignore:

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:11

Researchers tell us that loneliness is epidemic in our culture today. We bury ourselves in our devices, hoping to find some kind of connection there—or at least, a funny cat video.

But the Scriptures invite us instead to pause, to meditate on the perpetual presence of our Lord and on the unbreakable connection we have with his people: The Lord of hosts is with us—not just “with me,” but “with us.” We belong to Jesus and to one another forever!

What’s more, the God of Jacob is our fortress. Jacob seldom appears as an attractive figure in Scripture. Even his name gives him away; it means “The Schemer.” Again and again, we read about Jacob plotting one shady deal after another.

Even so, the Lord calls himself “the God of Jacob”—twice! Like us, Jacob was saved by God’s grace through faith in the Savior. As for Jacob, so for us:

God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

Because of Jesus and his cross, that eternal city is our city, too! Pause and reflect. Think about this!

Lord, you are not ashamed to be called our God. In your eyes, we are forgiven, holy. Make all of us at church bold to love one another and to work together to do all you are calling us to do in our community and our world. Amen.

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Psalm 2 carefully contrasts two competing “kingdoms.” Reread this psalm each day this week. As you do, notice the contrasts and the conflicts between the “kingdoms.”

Remember, though: Those who oppose the Kingdom of our Savior are not our enemies. The Holy Spirit is even now busy, working to turn opponents to faith and friendship.

We join him in sharing the love of Jesus with all those whose lives our life touches.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage. Psalm 2:8

Weekend

How to Encourage Others in Your Church

Jesus calls all believers into his vast family of grace. He also calls us to experience that family in a local congre-gation. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 sums up one of our Lord’s purposes for us in our church:

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Here are some simple ways to do that yourself and per-haps prompt others to join you:

■ Look for opportunities to thank those who serve—members of the worship team, deacons, the janitor, teachers, your pastor. Every time you find yourself at church, intentionally and sincerely thank three or four different people.

■ Ask God to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your heart and in the hearts of everyone with whom you worship.

■ Take notes during the sermon. Review them later in the week. Send an email telling your pastor one specific way the sermon blessed you.

Loved

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