Dear Church family.
I hope that the Sword of the Spirit pierced your heart yesterday morning (Eph. 6:17). One of the simplest truths that God taught me from His Sword of the Spirit was how it is the Word of God and His Word is ‘of the Spirit’ (2 Tim. 3:16) meaning that it’s His instrument to use. His Word belongs to Him therefore I dare not abuse it but rather use it appropriately. How often can we be responsible for quoting God’s Word out of context?
Furthermore, the Sword of the Spirit reminds us that God is working through His Word apart from us. “It is the Spirit Who gives life, the flesh is no help at all” as John 6:63 says. God’s Word is sufficient.
As an application of the message, I’m memorizing Psalm 62:9-10 that God’s Sword of the Spirit may open up my heart and refine it:
“9 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion. In the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes in robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.”
God has taught me two convicting truths from His Word here:
- ‘those of high estate are a delusion.’ We in America live in that category. Even the poor as our tax backets define are actually indeed rich. We tend to think of skill and money and social classes in higher terms than they deserve. Worse yet, we apply this to our worth and ego. Yet God says we’re a breath (Jms 4:14 describes us as a vapor). The person of low estate may actually embrace that reality more readily than a rich person (which we are). And that’s why “those of high estate are a delusion.” While the poor person thinks of themselves lower than they ought (as a mere breath), the rich person doesn’t think of themselves nearly low enough (therefore, we are deluded).
Are you deluded by your social status? The Word of God has cut through to my heart and shown me that I am susceptible to this delusion, especially as v10 brings the delusion to light:
- Notice how v10 says, “put to trust…set no vain hopes…set not your heart on them.” What is the them? Money and social status (social status is made through money). Oh how quick we are to trust in and hope in and set our heart on worldly things that pass away (Jn. 2:17).
For instance, with our high class living (when you compare us to much of the world and the rest of history), we are blessed beyond belief with medical advancements. We often put our trust in those doctors and surgeons and medicines thinking that they extend our lives. They do by God’s grace. As we would say, these things continue breathing. Yet God says, “our life still can’t weigh more than a mere breath” (v10b).
In fact, God says that these things are delusional and worth less than a single breath. They evaporate in a second according to God’s measurement system.
It turns out that if you let God ‘weigh into your life’ you will find it light and brief (for more study, read Daniel 5 & focus on 5:27).
Are you deluded by what you have, your good health, good mental capacity, good wealth? You may be deluded in thinking that you aren’t wealthy. We all are.
May we learn to see our riches according to Christ, that we are in Him and that He loves us.
As Psalm 62:11 goes onto say: “Once God has spoke; twice have I heard it (we need to hear this over and over again!): that power belongs to God (as opposed to our $ & social status), and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love…”
The Kingdom of God belongs to those of us who recognize our weakness, brevity and altogether lack of value WITHOUT the worth of Christ and power of God resting upon us (2 Cor. 4:7).
May we as a Church be humbled to think of ourselves not more highly than we ought (Rom. 12:3) but to be humbled beneath the Almighty Majesty of our God Most High!
Sincerely with love in Christ,
Aaron
