May 16 - Bubble Boy

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 28; Psalms 91; 1 Thessalonians 5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 Faith is not the denial of reality,
but the firm belief in a greater reality. 

Our title today was inspired by my wife’s term of “endearment” for me. I have always enjoyed a positive outlook, some think to an extreme. What some call my rose-coloured glasses, I call faith. The bubble Jan thinks I live in is really my shield of protection. I believe everyone can live there, so consider yourself invited.

David understood God’s protection. He started out his career running for his life, pursued by his predecessor, King Saul. His career came full circle with his successors trying to usurp his throne, beginning with Absalom, and now in today’s reading, ending with Adonijah. So David was not oblivious to the troubles that surrounded him. In fact, many of his psalms start off with a review of his calamities, but they often end with praise for the safety he always felt in God’s presence.

Look at the confession of my fellow bubble boy in today’s psalm:  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”.... If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord , who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways (91:1,2,9-11).

When we are walking with God, we really have nothing to worry about. Everything that happens to us is under His control and is always for our good, whether it feels that way or not. That’s the faith part - not denial of reality, but embracing a greater reality. The worse thing that can happen to us, death, is actually the best thing that could happen to us, as we are immediately transported to be with Jesus in Paradise!

“Lord, my praise to You today centers on the promise found in my other reading: But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing (5:8-11).”

PS. To all my readers: Welcome to my bubble!