A Firm Place to Stand

Good Morning,

Psalm 40:1-5 (NIV)
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.


So, someone asks you, "And, if I DO accept Jesus as Savior, as you're saying I should, what benefits do I get from that decision?" You know, "What's in it for me?" kind of thinking. It permeates our society, doesn't it? I mean, everywhere we turn and in almost everything we see and hear, there's someone looking for that little "something for me" that will have them lean toward one thing or another. So, we shouldn't be surprised when a person might ask, "What's in it for me?" when we witness the Gospel of Jesus. It's pretty normal, actually. I might even wonder if someone DIDN'T ask something along those lines and express some desire for a here and now benefit from such a major life decision.

So, what do we tell them? They garner the unbelievable benefit of an eternity with God? I'd say that's a pretty darn good perk, wouldn't you? That their sins would be forgiven and they wouldn't have to face the gates of hell when this life is over? Well, that's another of those huge, almost unexplainable benefits, isn't it? But, what do those things do in their lives today? What can we say about what blessings will they receive right now?

Today's verses are a pretty good answer to those difficult questions, I think. What David sang of those thousands of years ago are still true and can be sung today by those who have accepted God into their lives through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now, these may not be things that one normally might expect as the "it" in the "What's in it for me" question and mind set, but after consideration, these are things that will fill a person's life and bring true joy and happiness.

Now, I ask you, what better day than Sunday to read these words and allow them to resound in our hearts? This day that most of us gather together for corporate worship, let us have these beautiful words from David to sing out in our minds and show in our attitudes. These verses which prove the benefits of accepting Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior and allowing God to rule over our every day.

Let's keep these verses in our minds when we get that inevitable question, "What's in it for me?" as we present the Gospel message. This may be the very answer that someone is looking for. This may be what is needed in that person's life right at that moment in time.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David