WRATH AND GRACE

Every year-end I return to Psalm 90.12, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom". This is a reminder to me, as I head into a new year, that my days are short in this fleeting world, and that I need to make the most of what days/months/years are left to me. Verse 10 declares that I/we are nearing the close of this short chapter of our lives. For those who truly believe in Jesus and who are known by God, the next chapter of life will last and last in a state of full righteousness and joyess worship. ["Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5.1-2]
As I read Psalm 90 this morning I was surprised at what made up this "heart of wisdom". The Psalm begins with the declaration that God is our dwelling place. Not this earth, not this house I am sitting in, not my local fellowship, but God is my dwelling place. And who is this God, "The One who is from everlasting to everlasting". I want to live in God forever and I rejoice in the fullness of being "in Christ" even now. Then Moses, who wrote this Psalm, reminds us that God is Sovereign and we are but God's creation subject to His power and timetable. Moses also reminds us that this God is Holy and is a God of wrath who judges all sin, and that we live under His wrath.
Perhaps we need to enter 2018 with a fuller understanding and recognition of the wrath of God and of the Sovereign power of God over His creation, and learn afresh that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (verse 11).
Praise be to God that Moses closes this Psalm with by reminding us of the Grace of God, a Grace not taken for granted but daily sought and requested and bestowed upon us to establish us as God's workmanship, to enable us to live out and proclaim His Gospel, and to do His good work in this evil world.

My dear friends and saints, as I grow older you grow more precious to me. As I remember your many kindnesses to me and my family my heart wells up with thanksgiving to God and love for you. I am so thankful to God as He enlarges my heart and mind with every passing day, preparing me to enter into His presence. So my dear friends may you cry out to God to draw you to Himself this year and may you make every effort this year to become all that God wants you to be. As Moses prays in this Psalm, "Teach us, Return O Lord, Have pity on us, Satisfy us, Make us glad, Let your work be shown and your glorious power, Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, establish the work of our hands upon us".

 Ask God for His Grace and expect the Grace of God to be upon you this year [we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand]. May 2018 find us often crying out to God for His favor, His Grace, as we remember His Sovereign power and His wrath upon sin. May we enjoy more fully God Loving us.
For 2018 I pray that you will desire and find more of the Love and Grace of this wonderful Father-God that is ours because He gave us the gift of His Son Jesus Christ and enabled us to call Jesus Lord.