We are constantly begging God to set everything right, to fix our problems and bring peace to our world.  We ask for His glory to be seen then get distracted by everything but God.  We sing to God for our needs to be met, our sad little souls to be fed and our hearts to be filled with happiness.  We pray for emotional well-being, financial security and more stuff while living our own way in a world that only wants to take it all away.  We are a mess.  But God still loves us.  In fact,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

God has already done it!  He has already set things right!  Jesus, His One and Only, came down from heaven to seek and to save the lost who were living their lives without Him.  Jesus came and moved into the neighborhood of mankind to show us God, His ways and His love.  Jesus, the ultimate, perfect sacrifice, came to pay the debt of the sins of the world.  God set things right in this world by sending Jesus.

“God rules”, the Psalmist shouts in praise to the One and Only!  Everyone who worship gods, handcrafted by human hands, the “ragamuffin” material, political, and social things of this earth will be sorry when they see the King of kings and Lord of lords come back for his own! 

What or Who has all our attention?  That’s what or who we worship!

“For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11 ESV

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and        under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the          glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

“By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’”  Isaiah 45:23

Yes, and Amen!  God planned Jesus’ arrival from the beginning of creation, knowing we would need a Savior and Redeemer.  God set people right with Him to all who believe in Jesus.  Jesus, the foretold and fulfilled promise of God, came to set the world right!  Look, see, trust, believe and be saved!  Then, Celebrate!  Jesus IS coming back, you know…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 97, The Message

God rules: there’s something to shout over!
On the double, mainlands and islands—celebrate!

² Bright clouds and storm clouds circle ’round him;
Right and justice anchor his rule.

³ Fire blazes out before him,
Flaming high up the craggy mountains.

⁴ His lightnings light up the world;
Earth, wide-eyed, trembles in fear.

⁵ The mountains take one look at God
And melt, melt like wax before earth’s Lord.

⁶ The heavens announce that he’ll set everything right,
And everyone will see it happen—glorious!

^7-8 All who serve handcrafted gods will be sorry—
And they were so proud of their ragamuffin gods!

On your knees, all you gods—worship him!
And Zion, you listen and take heart!

Daughters of Zion, sing your hearts out:
God has done it all, has set everything right.

⁹ You, God, are High God of the cosmos,
Far, far higher than any of the gods.

¹⁰ God loves all who hate evil,
And those who love him he keeps safe,
Snatches them from the grip of the wicked.

¹¹ Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people,
Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.

¹² So, God’s people, shout praise to God,
Give thanks to our Holy God!

TRUTH:  God has set everything under heaven right!  “The heavens announce that he’ll set everything right, And everyone will see it happen—glorious!”  Jesus is His Name.

Proverbs 28:1-5, The Message

The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off
    even when no one’s after them;
Honest people are relaxed and confident,
    bold as lions.

² When the country is in chaos,
    everybody has a plan to fix it—
But it takes a leader of real understanding
    to straighten things out.

³ The wicked who oppress the poor
    are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.

⁴ If you desert God’s law, you’re free to embrace depravity;
    if you love God’s law, you fight for it tooth and nail.

⁵ Justice makes no sense to the evilminded;
    those who seek God know it inside and out.

WISDOM:  Seek God.  Read His instructions.  Ask for understanding.  Then follow God, no matter what, follow God and no one else. 

Abba Father,

Oh Lord, how our attentions are easily drawn to mindless idols of destructive thoughts and behaviors!  Pull all our attention to back to You.  You have already set the world right by sending Jesus.  Help us to realize that again.  Thank you, Jesus for offering your life for ours and following through with God’s Plan of redeeming my soul.  Thank you, Father for our intimate relationship because of the completion of your plan of setting things right with You. 

Thank you for Your Holy Presence in the lives of all who believe and are committed to You.  Thank you for protection and provisions enough to share, but most of all thank you for saving my soul and teaching me your law.  I worship you alone, for you alone are worthy of all my attention.  Keep us focused on you so we will see your glory at work daily.  You are my One and Only God, my hope.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen