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FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

Get Up!

(Psalm 37:1-9)

We all get down at times. None of us stay on the mountain all the time. Maybe we get down because of something physical like illness, bad news about our health, bad news about the stock market, or maybe your 401k plan took a big hit.

How can we stay up during the days ahead?  As you read through the book of Psalms, particularly Chapter 37, which David wrote in his later years, you will find many verses that can provide aid and comfort in times like these. What does God say that will encourage us? Following are a few insights from Psalm 37 that should help guide each of us:

     First, always remember that God is in control (read verse 1).

    A.    God says in verse 1, "Fret not." Fret simply means "to burn, to get heated
          up, to worry about.” This was a very hard thing for David’s people to do.
          The Roman Empire was one of the vilest to ever exist. History tells us that
          the road to Rome was often lined with crosses where Christians were
          executed. Today, Christians are still hated. A quick look at the television
          and newspapers will bare this out. One of our preachers is now facing
          death in Iran because of his stand for Christ. Could this come to America?
        Only time will tell.
   B. God is simply telling us "not to lose our cool."
   Second, we must put our trust in God (read verse 3).
   A. We still have “In God We Trust” on our currency. I often wonder how long it
        will be there.

   B. Someone once said, "Trust in government gets you what government can
        do for you.” "Trust in people gets you what people can do for you.” But,
        “Trust in God and you get what God can do for you.”

   C.   Louisa Sneed, the great missionary to Africa, witnessed the drowning of her
         husband while he was trying to save the life of a little boy in Long Island, N.Y.
         In her great loss, the Lord gave her the words to that great old song of the
         Faith: "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word, Just to rest
         upon his promise, just to know thus saith the Lord, Jesus, Jesus
         how I trust Him, how I've proved him o’er and o’er, Jesus, Jesus, precious
         Jesus, oh for grace to trust Him more!

Thirdly, find ways to do good for others (Read verse 3).

A. Do a good deed. Even the smallest of deeds may be just what someone
needs at the time.

    B.   At the first church where I worked, there was a lady who would go around
          and clean and polish the shoes for all the church workers. What a blessing
          that was to each of us!

Fourthly, make Jesus the joy of your life (Read verse 4).

A. Delight yourself in the Lord.

B. Nothing should come before the Lord in our life (read Matt. 6:33).

C. In Exodus 20:3, God’s first commandment to His people was "Thou
shalt have no other gods before me."

Let’s get up! How in the world will we ever be able to win others to the Lord if they see us going around with a sour look on our faces each day? The Bible says, "The joy of the Lord is our strength." In order to have that joy, though, you must know the giver of the joy - our Lord.

If you do not know Him today, please click on How to Be Saved, which will give you the plan of salvation.

May God bless each of you is my prayer.

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