Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
SANCTIFICATION OF THE CHURCH
Psalm:127Vs 3: Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Sanctification is the Holy Spirit's work of making us holy. When the Holy Spirit creates faith in us, he renews us in the image of God so that through his power we can produce good works. These good works are not giving merit but showing faith in our hearts. It is a process and gift from God which makes every willing member holy, according to their repentance and righteous efforts through the Savior Jesus Christ.
Vs 1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain”.
Whether we are running a home or building a house, working at an office, or supporting a ministry there is one vital principle that is all-embracing, all our undertakings that require a total dependence upon God, without which all our efforts will be frustrated, and all activities will be rendered unsuccessful.
Irrespective of developed skills, talents, capabilities, and intellectual genius all expended effort that excludes the Lord will be fruitless. Except the Lord keep the home, the family, the city or the church, the watchman’s labour or the minister’s effort will be in vain – for neither diligence nor alertness will profit without the Lord Himself. How blessed, therefore, is the home, the family, the nation, and the people, who have God as the head of their house and Lord of their lives. It was king Solomon to whom this psalm is described.
Vs 2: “It is vain for you to rise up early to retire late to eat the bread of painful labours; for he gives to His beloved even in his sleep”.
It is the Lord who blesses our daily lives; our daily duties; our business opportunities and our various labour. The Lord is the one who provides for our everyday needs, and it is upon Him that each one of us should justifiably depend. The Lord pours out his favor on our labour and establishes the work of our hands. What a lovely truth to realize that the Lord is not only the author of that beloved sleep that refreshes us daily but, he gives gifts to his beloved children - even when they are sleeping thank You for the benefits of a good night's sleep, but thank You also for the day by day provision of the gifts and graces that are ours in Christ - and which are even poured out on us during the night-time hours.
Vs 3 : “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward”.
The first few verses acknowledge their reliance on the Lord and celebrate the benefit of domestic activities and daily work when governed by God. It points out that one’s labour is in vain, without God’s providence and that work which is undertaken independently will be fruitless, while those who honour the Lord in their undertakings will prosper. The second part of the psalm proclaims that children are a gift of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a reward. Every child is a miracle from above, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Vs 4-5 : “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court”.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Let the Lord favour us with loyal, obedient, affectionate children, and we shall find in them our best helpers. We shall see them forth into life to our comfort and delight if we take care from the very beginning that they are directed to the right point. It says a man’s “sons” are given to him by the Lord, and they are like arrows in his hand or in his quiver. He concludes the metaphor by telling us why sons are like arrows. A father with many sons, “shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. But again, the emphasis is not on the fact that security and safety come from sons in and of themselves. Safety and security come from the Lord, since sons, “is a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward”.
All that being said in Psalm 127 is pretty simple and powerful: You can wear yourself out with your career, your family, or anything else — but if the Lord isn’t at the center of everything you do, it will all be for nothing. So, fear the Lord and He will bless you.
And of course, we know that in Christ the blessings are even sweeter.
Vs 1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain”.
Whether we are running a home or building a house, working at an office, or supporting a ministry there is one vital principle that is all-embracing, all our undertakings that require a total dependence upon God, without which all our efforts will be frustrated, and all activities will be rendered unsuccessful.
Irrespective of developed skills, talents, capabilities, and intellectual genius all expended effort that excludes the Lord will be fruitless. Except the Lord keep the home, the family, the city or the church, the watchman’s labour or the minister’s effort will be in vain – for neither diligence nor alertness will profit without the Lord Himself. How blessed, therefore, is the home, the family, the nation, and the people, who have God as the head of their house and Lord of their lives. It was king Solomon to whom this psalm is described.
Vs 2: “It is vain for you to rise up early to retire late to eat the bread of painful labours; for he gives to His beloved even in his sleep”.
It is the Lord who blesses our daily lives; our daily duties; our business opportunities and our various labour. The Lord is the one who provides for our everyday needs, and it is upon Him that each one of us should justifiably depend. The Lord pours out his favor on our labour and establishes the work of our hands. What a lovely truth to realize that the Lord is not only the author of that beloved sleep that refreshes us daily but, he gives gifts to his beloved children - even when they are sleeping thank You for the benefits of a good night's sleep, but thank You also for the day by day provision of the gifts and graces that are ours in Christ - and which are even poured out on us during the night-time hours.
Vs 3 : “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward”.
The first few verses acknowledge their reliance on the Lord and celebrate the benefit of domestic activities and daily work when governed by God. It points out that one’s labour is in vain, without God’s providence and that work which is undertaken independently will be fruitless, while those who honour the Lord in their undertakings will prosper. The second part of the psalm proclaims that children are a gift of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a reward. Every child is a miracle from above, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Vs 4-5 : “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court”.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Let the Lord favour us with loyal, obedient, affectionate children, and we shall find in them our best helpers. We shall see them forth into life to our comfort and delight if we take care from the very beginning that they are directed to the right point. It says a man’s “sons” are given to him by the Lord, and they are like arrows in his hand or in his quiver. He concludes the metaphor by telling us why sons are like arrows. A father with many sons, “shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. But again, the emphasis is not on the fact that security and safety come from sons in and of themselves. Safety and security come from the Lord, since sons, “is a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward”.
All that being said in Psalm 127 is pretty simple and powerful: You can wear yourself out with your career, your family, or anything else — but if the Lord isn’t at the center of everything you do, it will all be for nothing. So, fear the Lord and He will bless you.
And of course, we know that in Christ the blessings are even sweeter.
Prayer
May I never forget that it is YOU who provides for my daily needs, and I pray that from this day forward, I may do all for your greater glory and praise. This I ask in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.
Thought for the day
No matter what we do or where we are, the Lord is the One who makes things come to pass without him we are nothing. We can praise Him for He holds every aspect of our lives in His hands.
May I never forget that it is YOU who provides for my daily needs, and I pray that from this day forward, I may do all for your greater glory and praise. This I ask in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.
Thought for the day
No matter what we do or where we are, the Lord is the One who makes things come to pass without him we are nothing. We can praise Him for He holds every aspect of our lives in His hands.
Seena Thomas
Marthoma Church of Pune, India