Prepared for Trouble
We ended Grand Camp this morning with some recognitions and “blessing” for each family present. We had over 80 grandparents and grandchildren at our camp over the last four days. We enjoyed getting acquainted with others at the camp and especially those on our “team.” Our team was made up of grandparents from Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Greeley.
I was pleased that I was able to do as well as I do during the camp, especially coming off my bout with bronchitis. This morning at first was a challenge, but I was glad to start feeling better as the morning went on. Riley and I were able to get in one last round of miniature golf before heading home.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Call to me in times of trouble. I will save you, and you will honor me….Those people honor me who bring me offerings to show thanks. And I, God, will save those who do that.” Psalm 50:15,23
One of the greatest invitations of the Bible is to “call on the Lord.” It is our privilege, it is our opportunity to turn to a sure source of help in times of trouble, in times of need, in times when we need direction and revelation. The well known verse of Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Many may hesitate our a sense of guilt to call on the Lord in times of trouble if they have not been faithful in their commitment to Him. But God’s grace and invitation is unconditional. It is not “call to me in times of trouble…if….” It is simply “call to me.”
As we do call on the Lord, He promises to save and our natural response in turn is to “honor” the Lord. We honor the Lord through our worship of Him. In the Old Testament is was an actual animal sacrifice, in the New Testament it is the offering of the “fruit of of our lips and our lives.” (Heb. 13:15; Rom. 12:1,2)In our verses above we see an interesting cycle that presents itself. We call on the Lord and He saves us…we honor Him through our demonstration of thanks…in turn, God says, “I will save you.”
It is often said in life, we are “in a trial, coming out of a trial, or preparing for a trial.” With the uncertainties of life it is good to be well prepared. That means being quick to call on the Lord and seek His help and magnify Him. Remember, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all…” (Psa. 34:19)