Wed., 9/7/16 Devotion (Ps. 49:5)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 49:5, where we read these words:

"Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?"

The psalmist asks a good question here (above). Is fear the proper response to "days of evil"? Is cowering what God requires of HIs churchmen when "ini-quity" "surrounds" them? Indeed, no. Instead, faith and resulting faithfulness is to be employed. Faith in Christ says, " 'The days of evil' will not intimidate me, or overwhelm me."

Let us face it: these are not great days, in many ways; and yet Christ's church is still expanding, and the gospel is going out. No matter whether things look promising, or foreboding—let all the faithful church glory in Jesus today, and trust in our Sovereign God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The true God perfectly knows the circumstances of everyone who prays to Him throughout the world.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "The Most High a Prayer-Hearing God"]