From Calvary Chapel of Roswell

Pastor Jim Suttle

Msg #528                                  Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

(Ps 103:13-14)

Are you taking yourself too seriously?

Is it possible that you are expecting more of yourself than God expects of you.

Men can take truth and make it impossible.  Men can make things so legalistic that living God’s ways are impossible.  Jesus in speaking of the work of the Pharisees in His day said it this way:

For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (Mt 23:4)

God is so different. 

God has pity on us.  He doesn’t task us beyond what we are or can be.  He deals with us like a good father deals with his children.   A good father looks at his kids and knows they are not physically able to do some things and does not expect it of them.  He understands that mentally and psychologically they are limited and does not task them beyond their ability.  He deals tenderly, with care, protection and encouragement.   God’s dealings with you and His desires for your life today are tender, and filled with care for you.

God helps us.  Inherent in the word pity is the idea of one who undergirds, helps and holds up.  God is unlike the Pharisees who make the burden impossible and then as Jesus said, they don’t move them or help them with even one of their fingers.  God helps us – as a good father helps his child do what is right – giving physical help, moral encouragement and simply by being with us.  Living the life God has for us is possible, because He Himself helps us and empowers us to live.

God knows us.  He knows what we are…we are just dust.  Charles Spurgeon says it better than I can in his commentary on this verse says it this way:

We too often forget that we are dust, and try our minds and bodies unduly by excessive mental and bodily exertion; we are also too little mindful of the infirmities of others, and impose upon them burdens grievous to be borne; but our Heavenly Father never overloads us, and never fails to give us strength equal to our lot.

Today, maybe others are….or more likely you are…expecting too much of yourself.  Perhaps today you are taking yourself too seriously.  I call you to a different life.  A life that walks with God as He is – good, gracious, tender and right.   If you walk His way, in His love and in His power….you will discover the wonderful truth that He shares with us in 1 John

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.

And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 Jn 5:3)

Jim

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