Games People Play With God-Part 3 by Jerry Vinson
Gospel Anchor On-Line Edition (http://www.gospelanchor.com)
Charades
Joshua understood the necessity of being sincere and faithful
in one's worship and service to God. He said, "Now therefore,
fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth..." (Joshua
24:14). Jesus said as much when He declared, "...those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:25).
"Charades" is probably a familiar game to you. Players
take their turns acting out a part, pretending to be something
or someone that they are not. In the Bible, we read about those
who play "Charades" with God. Their scriptural name
is "hypocrite," a Greek word that means "one who
plays a part." It originally referred to play actors in the
theater. Jesus' sternest rebukes were spoken to and against religious
"play actors" (Matthew 23:13-36).
In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus warned his disciples not to be like the
hypocrites - the religious pretenders. These play actors played
the game of "Charades" in three areas: benevolence,
prayer, and fasting. Their true motive indicated that they were
not sincere in their love for the poor, their adoration and dependence
upon God, or their religious piety and devotion. They were playing
the part - playing a game of "Charades." You see, one's
motive is just as essential to pleasing God as is one's manner
of life.
Paul wrote of some religious teachers who played "Charades"
with God in the area of morality (Romans 2:21-24). While these
correctly taught "Do not steal," "Do not commit
adultery," etc., they practiced the very things they condemned.
These were hypocrites, pretenders, play actors who were playing
a fatal game of "Charades" with God. Because of their
hypocrisy, "the name of God (was) blasphemed among the Gentiles,"
rather than glorified and praised.
There are many people who profess to be Christians, who "worship" regularly, yet live immoral, unethical, and inconsistent lives - just playing a game of "Charades.&quoot; The world (and God) has no appreciation for religious "play actors" or for the worldly churches who tolerate them - and rightly so! Friend, being a Christian is serious business - not a game of "Charades!"
Peace of Mind by Frank Walton
"Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble" (Psalm 119:165).
An Illustration
This world is a hectic place, bustling with the hubbub and frantic
activity. We can sure feel it sometimes.
It was Monday night just before the evening service of our Fall gospel meeting. Michaela (age 4) was about to play her first soccer game. It should have been on America's Funniest Home Videos. When the ball was put in play, a dozen little piranhas attacked the ball, which promptly went out of bounds. This didn't stop anybody. There were kids falling down on top of each other, piling up around the ball, pushing and kicking. They kept attacking the ball, which squirted out of the pack of tiny soccer players and scooted onto the adjacent field. There another soccer game of little kids was in progress. Our game then briefly moved to this field in organized chaos, which eventually wound its way back to our field. Then, one kid ran into another kid, popping his head hard, and his mother ran onto the field to console his crying. What a game!
Where was Michaela during the fracas? About halfway through the brawl she ran off the field to find her Mommy. After promising her ice cream if she continued to play, she ran back onto the field with renewed resolve. After the game, when we had to hurry to church, Michaela was changing her clothes in the back seat. She exclaimed, after her first foray into team athletics, "I'm so stressed out!!" Hmmm? Where did she learn such language?
Finding Divine Peace of Mind
Divine peace is wholeness and harmony from being right with God. Despite what is going on outside of us and around us, the Bible promises truth lovers that we can find tranquility in the midst of turmoil. The power of God's guiding Word can steady our nerves and strengthen our walk in the Lord. "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" (2 Peter 1:2). Someone has said that a Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't. Study and reflective thought on Scripture can keep us close to the Lord and create a peaceful haven in our soul. "For most men the world is centered in self, which is misery: to have one's world centered in God is peace" (Donald Hankey).
What time is it when we're all stressed out? It is time to pray! "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6f). Prayer helps us see things in the calm light of eternity. Paul languished in prison, awaiting trial before the mad Caesar Nero. Yet, he had peace that kept out distressing anxiety like an armed sentry. Whatever bothers us, is best handled by turning it over to the Lord. Whatever we can worry about, we can pray about. There is nothing that the Lord and us cannot handle together.
To find peace of mind, Paul gives a list of shining virtues for us to fill our minds with in Philippians 4:8, things from Scripture that are "true…noble…just…pure…lovely…of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things." This is a scriptural prescription for the Christian's mental health, prescribed by the Great Physician. I am in control of my attitude, regardless of my circumstances. Paul then says if we act on what we have seen and believe to be true, "the God of peace will be with you" (v. 9). Paul says we can have the peace of God when we have peace with God, which comes from peace within ourselves that we have settled that question of eternity (Rom. 5:1-2). Too much stress comes from too many unproductive worries and not enough productive actions.
In Jesus, we find lasting, enduring peace that the world need not take away from us. "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:23). Let us calm our nerves with the fact that Jesus is the Lord of circumstance, the Master of the moment. He suffered the worst the world and the devil could throw at Him, and yet He overcame it all. He is our Peace Hero. We don't have to stay up all night and worry ourselves sick, because the Lord is going to be up anyhow. When the game of life seems too much, let us remember that our resurrected Prince of Peace has already won the everlasting victory for us at the cross. We need only faith to follow on to certain victory, and then we'll enjoy the unruffled joy of heaven forever. All the problems of this life will then vanish! What a peaceful thought!
PSALM 119 -Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
ZAIN. (Ps 119:49-56).
[49-51. Resting on the promises consoles under affliction and
the tauntings of the insolent.]
49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which [rather, "Remember
Thy word unto Thy servant, because," &c. So the Hebrew
requires (HENGSTENBERG).] thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for [rather, "This
is my comfort . . . that," &c. (MAURER).]thy word hath
quickened[What the Word has already done is to faith a pledge
of what it shall yet do.] me.
51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined
from thy law.
[52-56. The pious take comfort, when harassed and distressed by
wickedness of men who forsake God's law, in remembering that the
great principles of God's truth will still abide; and also God's.]
52 I remembered thy judgments of old, [that is, His past interpositions
in behalf of His people are a pledge that He will again interpose
to deliver them; and they become the theme of constant and delightful
meditation. The more we keep the more we love the law of God.]
O Lord; and have comforted myself.
53 Horror [rather, "vehement wrath" (HENGSTENBERG).]
hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy
law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs [As the exile sings songs of
his home (Ps 137:3), so the child of God, "a stranger on
earth," sings the songs of heaven, his true home (Ps 39:12).
In ancient times, laws were put in verse, to imprint them the
more on the memory of the people. So God's laws are the believer's
songs.] in the house of my pilgrimage. [present life (Ge 17:8;
47:9; Heb 11:13).]
55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have
kept thy law.
56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts. [Rather, "This
is peculiarly mine (literally, to me), that I keep Thy precepts"
(HENGSTENBERG and MAURER).]