5/1/18 Genesis 9:18-29, Genesis 10, Genesis 11:1-9 – Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 5:1-20 – Psalm 4:1-8

Matt 4:23  – And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Wow – if ever there was a sentence I’d like some expansion on… He healed every disease and every affliction. That’s amazing! A 100% success rate! No wonder word spread about Him. There’s no slow start with Jesus – He goes for it right away. How often do we hold back? We think we are not ready yet? “Don’t send me yet God – I need to build up to it”. The crowds didn’t come through the softly softly approach – Jesus begins His ministry and right away – He’s out there . I’d dare say… He’s a good example. Then, if we hop over to Matthew 5… we are right into the sermon on the mount! Jesus didn’t build up to this. Jesus set out who He was and His mission statement right from the start. Let’s not be coy about our mission. Let’s be bold – because Jesus was certainly bold.

Ps 4:8 –  In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

What a wonderful way to end a Psalm. This Psalm is written by someone who knows distress. But it’s a man who knows in difficult times who he can turn to. You have given me relief when I was in distress he says. He knows he’s been set apart by God himself.  This is not a desperate plea, not this Psalm. It’s the Psalm of someone who has been reassured through hard times. It’s someone who has learned to ponder his own heart – and do to it quietly before God. What a lesson to learn. And with all that right perspective – he can lie down in peace and sleep. Are you struggling to sleep because of the turmoil? Who can help you? The God of your righteousness. When you can ponder your own heart and learn to put your trust in Him alone – then we can trust He alone lets us dwell in safety. Then we can sleep with peace.