January 5, 2025

An honest reflection on the Christian life

Preacher:
Passage: Psalm 73
Service Type:
  • Turn to Psalm 73
    • A challenging and encouraging psalm
  • The Christian life can feel hard
    • It is a life of sacrifice
    • To take up our cross and follow Him
    • To die to self and the sins of the world
  • We are to live the Christian life in the most radical of forms
    • We can see it in negative terms – examples
    • Others thought like this – example of the Disciples
    • Even Jesus prayed for the pain of the cross to be taken away
  • It causes Asaph such a struggle
    • It seems as if his Christian life is on the brink of collapse
    • Here is an insight into how many Christians can think
      • A life of sacrifice
      • This can make us jealous of those who do not follow God
  • Asaph is a Godly man – he writes 12 psalms
    • These give insights into his life, including his honesty
      • He writes how the difficult the life lived for God can be
      • He struggles with the Christian life
  • He is an example of true, honest spirituality
    • Sometimes it is a battle
    • Sometimes we seem to lose more than we gain
    • Sometimes it seems the pain of the battle is too much to bear
  • We can get to a point in our Christian life where the step to give up all things – can seem a step too far
    • We take our eyes off Jesus
    • We look at the pleasures of the world
    • We should not cover this up
  • Asaph does not cover up his feelings – he is profoundly honest
    • He writes a psalm to be placed/preserved in Holy Scripture
    • God acknowledges that the Christian call can be difficult
    • Quote
  • Reading v2-5, v12-15
    • We can feel like this
      • We have a radical call to follow God
    • We are to bring our feelings to God
    • We are to be honest before God
      • How often do we come to Church and yet have such feelings?
      • How often do we think we must struggle on our own?
        • The disciples often struggled
        • We are not alone
    • At times we will all feel like this
  • What do we do at such times?
    • Psalm 73 calls us to more rational and long-term thinking
    • Asaph speaks of the future joy
      • The turn around – v17a
        • The sanctuary of God – meeting with the people of God, reading the Scriptures, singing in song
      • He understands their end – v17b-19
      • He understands his end – v24
        • A cross now leads to a crown, a death to self leads to eternal life
        • Matt 16:25
      • Luke 18:29-30
    • We are called to think big picture and long-term
    • We are to think like Christ:
      • Heb 12:2 – "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross"
      • Isa 53:11 – "He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities"
    • 2 Cor 4:17-18 – "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
  • Asaph speaks of the present joy (v25-26)
    • Even when God feels distant, He is right there beside us
      • Example of young child
    • God the Father was always close to God the Son
    • God is always close to us
      • We take hold of this reality
      • We can know Him as a great strength and a very present help in times of trouble
    • Our goal should be to have more communion with God
      • Even when things around are crumbling
      • This sweet communion is a foretaste of our eternal joy
  • We can know that God is with us, for us, delights in us and loves us
    • He is present with us in the battle
    • Be reminded of Asaph’s conclusions – that transforms grief into peace, joy and contentment
    • Quote from Thomas Rutherford
  • It is communion with God in the struggles that give meaning to them
    • v28 – "It is good for us to draw near to God"
    • He rested in the goodness of God
  • Closing Remarks
    • Remember your end in glory
    • Remember to fellowship with the Lord
    • Enjoy God now and forever in the midst of your lives
    • Do not look to the world for hope and joy
    • Look to God
    • Look to the rich treasure in Christ