GOD IS NIGH | Frank Becker

Week Twenty-Eight, 2024

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken (Psalms 34:18).

In my younger years, scouting was very much a part of my life, and I attained the rank of Eagle. Our troop was a great one and all of the leaders were veterans of World War II, so they ran the troop like they ran the military. I never understood why, but we always closed every troop meeting with the singing of Taps.

Later in life, as I developed spiritually, I drew the spiritual attachment. Taps closed the day that was done as the sun set below the horizon. It was the end of the day and celebrated that all was well. It is often played at burials signifying the end of a life. The final bugle call of the day on military installations, Taps is played at military bases as a signal to service members that it is quiet time for “lights out”.

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the hills, from the lake, from the skies.

All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

The key to me is “God is nigh.” This is a reminder that God is close to those who place their hope and trust in His promises. God’s word is Truth and He cannot lie so if we take Him at His word He will hear our cries for help and respond as He draws near to us because of His great love for us. Nigh is an old-fashioned word that can be used as an adjective or adverb to mean near.

James 4:8 tells us to draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. James promised that when we resist Satan, he will leave. In verse 8, James calls us to draw near—to move closer—to God. This comes with an additional promise: God will respond by moving closer to us. That’s an incredible act of mercy on God’s part.

What was causing fights and quarrels among the Christians to whom James was writing? They were living by the world’s wisdom. This false perspective says human beings should do whatever it takes to get what they want in this life, even if it hurts other people. James says that to live that way is adultery, but God gives grace. Christians should repent and move close to God again. We should trust Him to provide, to be the Judge, and to lift us up in His time. In humility, we must acknowledge that all of our plans are dependent on Him, and He can change them at any moment.

So, the message of taps is to make sure when the day is done, as we pillow our head and cover ourselves with the cover of God, all is well because God is nigh.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6 NIV).

In this passage in Romans, Paul describes the classic battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Really asking the following:

“On what is your mind set? On what are you focused on? Satisfying your own flesh desires or what the Holy Spirit desires?”

Our families are growing up in a society that has already been through the “ME” generation and the X and Y Generation that, while doing some good things, saw the deterioration and graying of moral values. Through those generations, it became all about ME. Satisfying my own desires first and foremost. With little regard to the needs or feelings of others.

That’s why I like such movements as the “I Am Second” movement. The movement that has famous actors, athletes, CEOs sharing why they are second and God is first. These kinds of things send a great reminder of who we are supposed to be as followers of Jesus. As a Believer… that is, as a follower of Jesus, I need to evaluate my heart and my mindset on a daily (if not hourly) basis.

Am I being ruled by the flesh and my fleshly desires?

Am I allowing the world (or even the world around me) to form my thoughts, actions and opinions?

Am I allowing the flesh to rule my desires? Or am I being formed and shaped by the Holy Spirit living within me? Allowing the Spirit’s desire for life and peace to rule me?

Allowing my decisions, choices, actions and thoughts to be directed by the Spirit within me? It’s a classic battle that wages within us all – The Flesh vs The Spirit.

Which will you be governed by? On what is your mind set?

Marty Stubblefield

— o —

Sixty years ago I was driven to Marine Corps boot camp. The bus arrived at 1am. Our heads were shaved. We were sent to the showers and shaved our faces, some bloodied. Then to bed. At 5am we awoke to the loud clashing of garbage cans. For the next 12 weeks, I learned a vocabulary I never knew existed. I heard myself described in ways that couldn’t be me.

Fast forward to the 21st century. The vocabulary from boot camp now seems to be the norm. People can’t communicate with one another without including some invective about that person or topic. Today’s language seems to be void of cordial substance and teeming with negative emotions.

Let’s get back to civil discourse, even when we disagree. God gives us, especially followers of Christ, the ability to choose kindness over rudeness. Think how nice it would be to return to those times prior to my boot camp.

Let it start with you and me.

Rich Jensen

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Saving faith hears the Word of God and obeys God. Obey God’s Word. Edgar Aponte

Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome. Arthur Ashe

I find it interesting that there are such differing positions and thoughts on so many topics today. This is not just in the world or our nation but even in what are identified as Christian institutions and organizations. Elbert Nasworthy

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. Thomas Jefferson

If God calls you, are you willing to accept. Everyone wants to play first chair.

He created each and every human being and He reads the thoughts and determinations of their mind. Yet He is generous to extend salvation to all, who choose to be saved. Stephen Bernard

A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self. Charles Dickens

The highest art is always the most religious, and the greatest artist is always a devout person. Abraham Lincoln

Hope is necessary in every condition. Samuel Johnson

Unfortunately, the abortion industry doesn’t stop. They keep selling abortions that kill babies and hurt women.

The past does not determine our tomorrows. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father sets out all we were created to be. We are a miracle of God, created & gifted for great things. Scott Whitaker

Deeds, not stones, are the true monuments of the great. John L. Motley

We wonder why other religions have gained momentum and gained traction in a nation founded on Christian principles and values. We wonder why we continue to allow our leaders to lead us in a direction away from what we know are godly paths. We remain silent at the injustice around us. We allow the voices of the few to bully and push agendas that are contrary to what is good, and pure and right. And then we stand and wonder, in our own darkness, where God is and why He hasn’t shown Himself. Marty Stubblefield

I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it. Margaret Thatcher

Be cautious. History is written by the winners.

We like to think of ourselves as seeds until we realize that to succeed, we must die to ourselves. Dwight Short

Never let go of what you do know because of something you don’t know. Dan Shock

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