The True

Tens of Thousands

“I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side” (Ps. 3:6).

Do you resonate with that declaration? Actually, before considering whether you can relate to the declaration, what about the idea of being assailed by tens of thousands on every side? Can you can relate?

I will be honest and say that, for the longest time, this verse and others like it felt foreign to me. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never been physically assailed by tens of thousands on every side. Because I’ve never faced that physical threat, I’ve sort of glossed over this declaration of being free from fear even in the face of danger. I’ve glossed over it because I am not in physical danger, so I assume this declaration is for someone else. It is for David as he flees for his life. It is for the soldier heading out to face a foe on the battlefield. It is a wonderful declaration, but it is for them and not for me, because I do not have tens of thousands assailing me. That’s what I have told myself, and maybe it’s what you tell yourself.

So why do I still fear? If I do not have tens of thousands set against me, why does anxiety and trepidation rise in me?

Do you resonate with that part? Do you struggle with fear or anxiety or worry? I suspect you do to at least some extent, because these are common tactics of the enemy. This is the usual bag of tricks used by the one who seeks to destroy you. Through fear and fear-adjacent tactics (anxiety, worry, etc.), the enemy sends tens of thousands against you, and they aim to assail you on every side.

All of this to say nothing of the tens of thousands who quite literally stand against you when you stand for the Truth of Jesus Christ. Our technological age affords us many benefits, but one of the significant challenges of our day is that standing for anything will generate tens of thousands against you. Standing for Jesus will most certainly do it!

So perhaps you, like me, now recognize that tens of thousands are in fact assailing you on every side. The onslaught comes in the form of a constant mental battle against the father of lies who seeks to besiege you with fear (Jn. 8:44). It is joined by those who stand against Truth.

But what about the declaration that you will not fear? If it is true that tens of thousands are set against you, how would you (or should you) reject a state of fear?

The answer is found simply in whether you actually believe what you read about God in this same chapter.

Do you actually believe He is your shield (Ps. 3:3a)?

Do you actually believe He holds you up (Ps. 3:3b)?

Do you actually believe He hears your cries and responds to them (Ps. 3:4)?

Do you actually believe He sustains you (Ps. 3:5)?

My friend, here is the Truth today. You either believe these things about God from Psalm 3 or you don’t. Because if you believe, then what does it matter if the odds are long or if tens of thousands assail you on every side?

If God is for you, who can be against you (Rom. 8:31)? If you now resonate with the idea that tens of thousands—both literally and figuratively—assail you on every side, but you also believe in the God who hears, defends, and sustains you, then cast aside fear, because in the shadow of the Almighty, the attacks of the enemy have no power!

U.S.

Attempted Assassination

A 31-year-old man from California is in custody and charged with attempted assassination after he allegedly attempted to charge through Secret Service security during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC on Saturday. The suspect was armed with two firearms and multiple knives, and gunfire was exchanged, though reports suggest only a secret service agent was hit. The agent was struck in a protective vest and avoided serious injury. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated while other guests took cover, and the event was eventually postponed.

Investigating officials say the suspect emailed friends and family just before the attack and called himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin.”

Analysis and eternal perspective: This story is the latest in a long line of attempted attacks on President Trump. Political violence has been on the rise for some time but seems to have escalated even more in recent years. There are likely many reasons and explanations, including political rhetoric and polarization, mental health challenges, and decreased civic cohesion.

Ultimately, however, the state of society and culture is a reflection of its spiritual health. Luke 6:45 reminds us, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.” It is true for individuals, and it is true for wider society. Division and separation from God portend to chaos.

As a Jesus follower, you serve a God who draws close to the brokenhearted (Ps. 34:18). It is the same God who tasked you with humbling yourself in prayer for your land, and Who promised to hear you and respond to you with healing (2 Chron. 7:14).

Left to its own accord, the current violence and discord is certain to continue and even to escalate. But if we will be a people drawn to humility and prayer, the everlasting God will hear us from on high and will indeed come to calm the storm.

U.S.

The King's Visit

King Charles III is visiting the United States this week. The monarch of the United Kingdom and his wife, Queen Camilla, appeared with U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in Washington, DC on Monday, and the king addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. It was the first such address in 35 years. The royal couple is also visiting the September 11 Memorial in New York City and is expected to depart for Bermuda on Thursday.

Analysis and eternal perspective: It has been 250 years since America declared its independence from Britain, and while the relationship between the two countries has ebbed and flowed in the time since, King Charles’ visit is intended to bolster the ties and celebrate the significant milestone.

The concept of government royalty is somewhat foreign to the American public, especially the British form of royalty which is light on governing authority and heavy on symbolism.

You, however, as a follower of Jesus, are a royal! 1 Peter 2:9 declares followers of Jesus, “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”

But what are you to do with this royal title? The rest of the verse answers that question quite specifically: “. . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

You have heard this before, but one of the most magnificent threads of scripture is how consistently it tasks YOU with declaring the glory and praise of God! There are many ways that God demonstrates His glory, but you, my friend, are His preferred vessel. He has repeatedly called on His royal priesthood—you—to bring Him fame!

U.S.

Drawing Lines

In the latest installment of a redistricting battle between red and blue states, the Virginia Supreme Court will soon decide whether to allow a redrawing of congressional lines recently approved by Virginia voters. The court’s decision turns on whether the Virginia legislature complied with the state’s constitutional requirements for such a vote. The Virginia debate is the latest in a lengthy series of state actions in both Republican-controlled states and Democrat-controlled states to redraw congressional lines in a way that produces more partisan wins for the respective party. While congressional lines are typically re-drawn once every decade after a new census, the current back-and-forth has both parties trying to find a partisan edge.

Analysis and eternal perspective: What is the goal? Take a look at the newly drawn congressional lines in both red and blue states, and it will be clear to you the goal is not common-sense congressional district lines. The goal for both parties is to squeeze as much partisan control out of every state in which they currently have power.

This is far from an ideal situation, but it is in fact one of the features of the American system of federalism. States are in charge of their own line-drawing, as well as the lion’s share of the election mechanics in their own state. America’s founders designed the system this way as one of the many checks and balances on authority, and each state has the ability to respond (or not) to the actions of another state.

As for the whether the new lines in Virginia (or any other state) will stand, it will most often depend on whether the state courts find adequate compliance with the process as proscribed in state law (both the state constitution and statutory law).

These stories are dividing—literally and figuratively—people, including Jesus followers. Your challenge and mine is interacting with these stories and the larger dynamic of self-governance in a way that demonstrates the love of Jesus to both those who vote like you and those who don’t, and through serving the needs of those who are drawn into your district as well as those who are drawn out of it.

Bottom line: Amid a process of dividing, you can and should embody the love of Jesus to all (Jam. 2:1-13)!

The Beautiful

Face to Face

Are you for tea or coffee? The king and queen predictably chose tea at the White House this week, but I prefer coffee.

Either way, there is rich beauty in pausing to break bread or “have tea” in a face-to-face setting. You live in an increasingly disembodied world, but you are an embodied being! Your soul will live forever, but there is rich beauty in the embodied experiences for which your Creator designed you here on Earth!

Today, choose the beauty of at least one face-to-face embodied interaction. In other words, pause and “have tea” (or coffee)!

“The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Ex. 33:11).