Renewal Awaits Response – Part One
“Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:28-31
Jesus, the recently resurrected Lord of life and death, sent a message to His disgraced and denying disciple, Simon Peter, which was in essence, “Meet me at the Sea of Galilee.” Why? Because it was time for a restart. Young John Mark deserted Paul and Silas on a missionary journey. In effect Jesus said to him, “Lift up your chin and pick up your pen. Let’s start over again. I’ve got a gospel for you to write.”
To say Jesus is the God of a second chance is to limit Him. He is the loving God of the second chance and more. He is the God of renewal.
Baron Von Hugel, an influential Austrian religious writer and Christian apologist, said: “It is harder for a healthy person to be religious than for one whose body is ‘a constant failure.’”
Why? The Lord wants to use our adversities to our advantage. We can signal our willingness for Him to bless and use us by showing an attitude of gratitude. The above text describes the response to the Lord in a time of trouble.
Psalm 107: 1 – 3 is an exhortation to give thanks. Giving thanks to God is the most we can give Him and the least we should. We should do so for two reasons as noted in verse 1.
“He is good…” It is His nature. Water is always wet, fire is always hot, and God is always good. He is good to us and for us.
There is a recurring theme in Psalm 107 found in verses 8, 15, 21, and 31: “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.”
“His mercy endures forever.” God’s grace is His favor being given to us. His mercy is His protection preventing bad things coming to us.
Because of His goodness He supplies us and because of His mercy He spares us many things of which we are unaware.
Psalms 107: 28, 31 took this into account and explains why not all of life is sailed on a smooth sea. It is so we will trust Him and He can reveal Himself to us.
Our Lord wants to use our advantages and our adversities to draw us to Himself. He is the God of renewal, daily renewal. Regardless of your faithfulness or failures He awaits your response in order to renew you. As renewal enabled the Lord to use Paul and Mark so it will enable Him to bless and use you.