Sunday 14 April 2013

LOOK UP


READ: PSALM 121:1-2
The siege that enveloped Samaria, recorded in 2 Kings 6:24-30, left the city completely surrounded on all sides, except from above. A woman who was affected to the point of eating her son cried to the king, who was the best person, humanly speaking, who could offer some help. But the king himself was under siege – he told her his power as king was equally reduced by the siege and asked her to look up to the only possible place for help remaining, that is God! “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – form whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2).
Man is limited but thank God the One we serve is unlimited. In Mark 2:1-12, a paralysed man was brought by his friends to Jesus. On reaching the house where Jesus was, they could not enter because the crowd had surrounded it completely. There seemed to be no way in until they looked up and saw the roof and climbed in and got his attention.
Have you felt caged in? Have you seen yourself in a very tight corner? Are you faced with temptation to sin? Simply look up to him and he will make a way for you. Your help is in God’s custody: go to him and receive it. You are not stranded.  You will come out of that tight corner! Look up! “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)  
Do not yield to the pressure of that temptation. God is the haven of rest for those who are tempted – run to him and be safe. Just look up to him and ask him to show you the way out. Then listen to your spirit. After all, he is the very present help in times of trouble. Your enemies may surround you, but God will surround them, thereby making them a sitting target for his missiles. The enemies surrounding you are standing on God’s own soil and therefore, just as it happened to Korah, Dathan and Abiram in Numbers 16:23-33, the ground will open and swallow them. Only look up to God for help.

MEMORIZE: PSALM 121:1-2 –I will lift up my eyes to the hills – form whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.