Faith's Simple Equation - Day 71 Month 3-12 Week 11-1

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Leviticus 11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2011&version=NASB1995

Psalm 59 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2059&version=NASB1995

Isaiah 51:14-23 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2051%3A14-23&version=NASB1995

Mark 14:12-31 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014%3A12-31&version=NASB1995


Faith’s Simple Equation


In Psalm 59 today we were reading David's prayer for protection when Saul had sent men to wait for David in order to kill him.  David prayed to be delivered from his enemies.  David finished his Psalm with “as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of your lovingkindness in the morning for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress.  O my strength, I will sing praises to You”


In Isaiah we are reading about Israel being encouraged that their exile will soon end and that they will never again drink and suffer from God’s anger in the same way.  Isaiah prophesies God’s words, “Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, the chalice of My anger; you will never drink it again.”


Sylvia and I regularly visit a home a short drive away.  We meet with several other people who attend the same church and discuss some questions relating to the Sunday sermon with the intention of sharing aspects of our lives and faith together.  We call it “small group.” Some church organizations call it “Bible study” and in the church we attended in Hamilton we called it “home church.”  No matter the name, it has the same purpose.  We spend time discussing the weekend sermon, spend some time in prayer and enjoy some wonderful snacks together.


One of the people in this week’s gathering brought up an interesting point.  They told a story of their wife's aunt who had come close to the end of her days.  Someone had mentioned to her that they prayed God would give her strength as she faced her transition to her heavenly home.   She quickly corrected them and said she used to pray for strength and then she realized, it’s not praying that she will have strength but that God IS her strength.


As I am reading Psalm 59 I realize, that is exactly what David has said.  “O my strength, I will sing praises to you.”  Wow!  If we trust in God, He is our strength!!!  It also relates to the Israelites being released from captivity.  Though Israel is God’s chosen people, for years they tried doing things in their own strength.  So God took His protective hands off of them and they were in exile.  BUT, God came back to get them.  Through His strength they are being released.


In our reading in Mark, we are once again shown the great love that Jesus is about to show towards the world.  First though, he shares heartbreaking truths to the 12 disciples who I’m sure were grieved at the words.  At least 11 of them would be!  First, one would betray Him.  Second, His death is imminent and finally the remaining 11 would all fall away.  It must have been devastating!  Jesus knows all that is coming yet He still spends time with all His disciples.  


One of the other things that came up in the small group last night was a question that reminded me of my first year studying electrical engineering (I never graduated so I’m not an engineer).  The concept is very simple.  When studying electricity, there is DC and AC and DC is very simple and basic.  AC is the way power is delivered.  Our house has a 200 amp AC service and all our plugs are AC.  However, every piece of electronics converts the AC to DC to function.  We were told that in DC electrical theory, everything goes back to first principles.   V=IR.  Current, multiplied by resistance is equal to the voltage.  Our gas and diesel cars use 12 Volt DC for everything from lights to the fancy screen on the dash.  So these first principles are true even in the vehicles we drive.


The faith filled life also goes back to first principles.   If our life is focused on loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and loving our neighbours, then all the other things in life fall into place!  God becomes our strength so we no longer need to worry about carrying things ourselves.  Just like the voltage equation V=IR, Loving God equals Strength and Love.  My new equation for faith LG=SL.  Now let’s see what the editor does with this!  


Have a great day!

Steve

PS: Editor revised the equation to read: LG=SLO (Loving God = Strength for Loving Others)


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