Grace and peace be with you all. As concerned Christians, I am sure all of you have said at one time or another, "how did we get here as a people or as a nation?"
There could be a play on words with the word "history." We like to say, "His story," especially as we refer to the Scriptures and our salvation. As you would read through Psalm 105 and 106, the Psalmist speaks in terms of history. Chapter 105 is a pleasant review; 106 is much different.
As Americans we can learn a lesson from the Psalm writer, that is, as we would look at the last couple of hundred years of America's brief history it is good to start with praise before the diagnosis. If the Psalmist would have started in verse 6 of chapter 106 and ended the Psalm with verses 1-5 he may have been too depressed to even write them. A lesson that we have learned as a congregation is to keep a heavenly perspective:
Before you look back, look up
Before you move forward, bend low
Before you ask for, be thankful
We could become very discouraged, unless we start out this way. We know the definition of faith is the substance of things hoped for, the certainty of things not seen, to live that out is to trust that God will see us through, not just that He can.
Verse 4 of 106 is a prayer for the Lord to remember and to visit us with salvation. As you read the following poem, keep in mind the criminal on the cross who asked to be remembered and that wee little man, Zacchaeus, as salvation visited his home.
Oh visit me, oh visit me
My Savior I pray Thee
Visit me, oh visit me
I seek not the ease of life
Or to be carried to Thee without the fight
When others before ran hard to win
And others passed through to Thee
Upon their bloody knee
Visit me, oh visit me
My Savior I pray Thee
Visit me, oh visit me
Though I'm not worthy to have Thee near
Your mercy purchased with a grace so dear
That now this tent, Your dwelling place
I thank Thee Lord
Thou remembered me
You remembered me, oh Lord You remembered me
By grace alone I've been set free
Your Word continually washing me
You remembered me, thank you for remembering me
- Pat Propster
May the Lord bless us and keep us, may the Lord have His face to shine upon us. As He has been gracious to us. May we prepare our hearts even more so this year than last, for the resurrection season that we celebrate as we await His imminent return.
• Pat Propster is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Carson City Christian Fellowship.
