Date: Friday June 15, 2012
Today's Chapters: Psalms 22-27
Message Title: In The Hands Of Christ

Hello My Friend,

Whether or not we choose to allow Christ to be Lord of our lives, we all have to admit that life has it's challenges, we are going to face trials, we are going to be tempted and tried, we are going to get ourselves into messes, and we are going to have to work to overcome them. It's a never ending battle, the difference between those who let Christ be Lord is that they are not fighting the battle alone. You know the saying, “Many hands make light work.”? Well, put your battles in the hands of Christ and you will not have to work so hard. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Mathew 11:28-30.

Even in the Old Testament people put their lives in the hands of Christ, they knew He existed, they could not see Him just like you and I, but they trusted God and had faith that the Messiah would come. Proof that He existed before He came is within the Psalms as psalmists reference many of the prophecies of His birth to His crucifixion, Psalm 22 gives reference to His crucifixion.

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.” - Psalm 22:1,7,8,15-19.

These prophecies played out just as David foretold, “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” - Matthew 27:35,41-43,46.

Still today, many Jews reject Christ as the Messiah, but David, who started out in life as nothing, but a shepherd boy, considered himself a lost sheep who needed a shepherd, even as king. While he did complain a lot through his distress, he knew that Jesus was with Him. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” - Psalm 23.

Sheep when guided by a shepherd always find their way, but can easily get distracted and caught by the wolf that is lurking about, just waiting to devour it. Christ is the Shepherd that we need to guide us out of the circumstances that we cannot control. Just like the wolf that lurks about to devour the sheep the devil lurks about to devour those who get away from the Shepherd. While he cannot take their lives he can cause a lot of trouble. Those who try to handle their circumstances on their own will eventually find the wolf through another person or thing and it becomes their shepherd that guides them to a path of corruption, not righteousness.

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.” - John 10:7,10-12.

We all have a choice and since we cannot control everything that comes our way we might as well make the right choices to avoid the consequences later on. Allowing Jesus to be Lord of our lives actually gives us freedom, freedom from more than just death and hell, freedom from the bondage of our circumstances. Instead of trying to fight the battle on your own, embrace it, with Christ leading the way. We should all follow David in saying, “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.” - Psalm 25:1,2,5-7.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for loving me and giving Your life for me, it's not always easy to hand all my burdens over to You, but I know it's the only way that I can truly get through them and find victory. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. In Your name Jesus. Amen.

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