Is your help in the name of the Lord?

Psalm 124:1–8 (ESV):  

1  If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— 

let Israel now say— 

 2  if it had not been the Lord who was on our side 

when people rose up against us, 

 3  then they would have swallowed us up alive, 

when their anger was kindled against us; 

 4  then the flood would have swept us away, 

the torrent would have gone over us; 

 5  then over us would have gone 

the raging waters. 

 6  Blessed be the Lord, 

who has not given us 

as prey to their teeth! 

 7  We have escaped like a bird 

from the snare of the fowlers; 

  the snare is broken, 

and we have escaped! 

 8  Our help is in the name of the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth. 

You wouldn’t be where you are right now if it were not for God’s intervention. You wouldn’t have; survived, been as successful, as peaceful, as whole, or as strong as you are right now, if it were not for God’s hand upon your life. 

You may not feel strong, whole, mighty, free or at peace, but can you imagine what your life would be like if God wasn’t looking after you? Imagine what a mess you’d be in. You could be defeated, destroyed, in greater pain and distress, encompassed by sin, bound and swallowed up by anger. What kind of life would that be? Yet, ‘the snare has been broken’ and you have not been ‘swallowed up alive’! Not because of luck, your own quick thinking or actions, but because The Lord has been on your side. He has saved you from the ‘raging waters’, the full force of people’s anger, and you have escaped being prey ‘like a bird’ because your ‘help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’

Therefore, thank God! Thank Him that He is on your side, and that He helps you, and all of His followers. He has not allowed you to be overcome or defeated, He has facilitated your escape from trouble on this Earth, as well as rescuing you from the wages of sin for eternity - ‘the snare is broken and we have escaped’! What an incredible promise! It is God who has done this, all of it! It is not your own ideas or capability, strength or knowledge that has helped you out of trouble, but God has saved you. God has healed you, protected you, recused you, intervened for you and saved you from the wages of sin! He has helped you in more ways than you can count. 

So, simply and honestly, all you need to do is thank Him. Show your gratitude, sing praise, give to him, tell stories, shout and cry in triumph if you want to! Store up the stories. remember and tell others of the times you have ‘escaped like a bird’.  Acknowledge that God is the greatest help you have. You wouldn’t be the person you are today, having accomplished and survived what you have ‘if it had not been the Lord who was on our side’. Hallelujah!

Called, Beloved, Kept

 

*1*Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, 

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 

*2*May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 

Jude 1–2.

In these opening verses of the letter of Jude, like any other letter, we can see to whom this letter is intended. Except that it is not to a particular address, city, town or group of people. It is, ‘To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ’. So, whoever is called, beloved of God and kept for Jesus are those to whom this letter is written - are you one of the intended recipients? What does it mean to be called, beloved and kept? 

‘To those who are called’. 

This implies those that have been selected, chosen and invited. Although those who have been invited may not come, so this is for those who have listened to the call of God and responded to follow. Those who have heard, accepted and are now living life showing who they are and who they are serving. God has called, have you heard his invite and accepted and followed or turned your back and walked away? God will continue to invite you to realise you are His beloved, even if you haven’t followed Him yet.

‘Beloved in God the Father’

Beloved = greatly loved, held in much affection, valued, prized, held dear. This is how Father God feels about you. If you are alive today, even if you do not realise it, or fully understand it - this is how God responds to you; You are His beloved. Held dear, highly valued and prized by God. Why not take a moment just to consider that.

‘Kept for Jesus Christ’

Not only have you been called and greatly loved, but you are also preserved, set apart and saved for Jesus. No matter what life throws at you, you are being protected and ‘kept’ for Jesus. God knows that His love and favour for us, and our responding ‘yes’ to His call will mean things will come against us, that’s why we have this assurance that we are ‘kept’ for Christ. Can you keep holding on through life’s struggles by accepting your call and knowing the deep, affectionate love of the Father? If you do, you will be part of the prize Jesus receives - you are being preserved and saved for him.