David R. Ferguson – Via Bulletin Gold
One of my favorite passages of Scripture comes from the pen of the
Psalmist who declared, “FO the Lord taketh pleasure in His people: He
will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psalm 149:4). What a great
statement of love and hope is found within these words!
It’s hard to believe the very Creator of the universe can be moved
with such great emotion by us that we are told “He takes pleasure in
His people,” but He does! The fact of the matter is, the Bible is chock-
full of such wondrous themes of God’s love for mankind, His desire to
be close to us, the joy He wishes so desperately to share with us, and
the great riches of His boundless grace that He so longingly wants to
bestow upon us, that we are really without excuse not to access all of
these.
Let’s take a few moments to consider just a handful of these
wondrous, uplifting passages of Scripture. Do all things without
murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless,
the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse
nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:14-
15). Did you hear that? We are sons of God! We are to be His lights in
a dark, dying and desperately-lost-in-sin world!
But the Apostle Paul tells us God recognizes those who come to Him
through His Son in obedient, saving faith as His children! What a great
delight that is to know! It’s also worth noting that God expects His
children to “do all things without murmurings.” Does that really
describe us, or are we individuals who constantly go around looking at
other people and things to complain about and criticize?
When Jesus came to the Earth, Light was found in the world again!
That Light was coming from a manger in Bethlehem when our Savior,
Jesus, was born. He is the Light of the world. He has brought spiritual
Light to this very dark, dying world. This spiritual Light must be
received to be seen. With an obedient faith we believe, and God saves
us and gives us eternal life. The darkness is thick, but the Light of Jesus
can penetrate anything. Even your hard heart if need be.