Thurs., 9/7/17 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 in dread what God requires of HIs churchmen when "iniquity" "surrounds" us? Indeed, no. Instead, faith and resulting faith-fulness is to be employed. Faith in Christ says, " 'The days of evil' will not in-timidate me, or overwhelm me."

Despite the fact that the days are challenging, the reality is that Christ's church is still expanding, and the gospel is always spending out over the whole world. No matter whether things look promising, or foreboding—the faithful church has cause to glory in Jesus, 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"]