Mar 09
Today’s Truth
“But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them” (Psalms 2:4 NLT).
Friend to Friend
On my social media, it feels like I’m seeing a growing wave of anti-God and anti-Bible comments. In our post-Pandemic world, media outlets and pollsters confirm an increasing number of empty seats and a rise in the number of people who no longer believe in a sovereign God or that Jesus is the only way of salvation.
While we may look around and feel the decline of faith in our country, you may wonder if God is in heaven wringing His hands. Is He worried that His plan for humanity is falling apart? Is God concerned that He might be considered obsolete in our rebellious world?
Today’s truth in Psalm 2 reveals God’s response to our world’s repeated attempt to dismiss, discount, or deny His plan or sovereignty. God is not worried. In fact, He laughs.
Our eternal Almighty God laughs as different rulers throughout humanity attempt to eliminate Christianity to silence the influence of God. One of the most notable and brutal attempts occurred in 303 CE when Roman Emperor Diocletian started the Diocletianic or Great Persecution, a time of brutal persecution of Christians.
At first, Diocletian was content to let Christians live with their religious freedom, but in time, he changed the laws, demanding that they follow pagan practices. After destroying churches and existing Christian books, he ordered that clergy be arrested unless they recanted. Then, Diocletian’s soldiers were ordered to find Christians and force them to recant their allegiance to Christ or face death.
As a result, the blood of countless martyrs flowed. Christians were murdered, whether locked and burned in their homes, executed by arrows or sword, or subject to all manner of early torture devices. One city, Phygria, comprised mainly of Christians was burned to the ground. Yet, he wasn’t the only ruler that attempted to stamp out the flame on the Gospel, nor the light of Christ in the world.
For all the horror that Diocletian and other rulers have inflicted on the world to eliminate the influence of God, they all have one thing in common: They’ve failed.
Therefore, as Psalm 2 records: God laughs. He scoffs because they foolishly think that their human effort can stop eternal power. If you continue reading Psalm 2, God’s laughter quickly converts to anger. He is a holy God and one day will judge an unbelieving world.
However, until then, how do we live in hope even when it seems like so many hearts are turning against God? Here are three reasons that you can have hope today:
- No matter what any news outlet or poll reports, God isn’t going anywhere.
- Pray for others to know Jesus but keep paying attention to how you live out your faith.
- Don’t worry, God wins.
Which one of these resonates with you today? When you see the statistics on declining church attendance or the changes in beliefs about God, then that is your prompt to pray, not get pessimistic. Centuries after King David wrote Psalm 2, the Apostle Paul would teach us to “walk by faith and not by sight.” Remember, God wins. He has already won and one day in the future, we will stand in His eternal victory. When we see empty seats at church or hear about friends walking away from the faith, those actions aren’t an indictment of God’s power or effectiveness, but rather evidence of humanity’s pride or hard hearts.
Long ago, King David prophetically wrote beyond himself declaring God’s victory to encourage us today. Can you remember to pray today instead of giving in to pessimism? Live as an overcomer because in Jesus’ Name, you are. As you pray for the salvation of those far from God or the repentance of turned-away believers, you will see God’s power and miraculous grace.
Let’s Pray
God, today I acknowledge for my own sake that You win! You are already and You will be victorious over the evil, sin, pain, and death in our world. Forgive me for getting discouraged and at times, even doubting Your power over what’s happening in our world. I choose to live from Your victory today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
When you get discouraged about empty seats at church or reports of people walking away from the faith, what do you need to remember from today’s devotional?
Who are five people that you can pray for this week and invite to church for Easter services?
More from the Girlfriends
Today’s devotional was excerpted from Barb’s new Lenten book, Finding Jesus in the Psalms. Join Barb in exploring how King David’s life reveals the life and passion of Jesus Christ and this experience will draw you closer to God and deepen your faith with one of the most popular books in the Bible, the Psalms.
(As an Amazon Associate, Girlfriends in God earns A SMALL COMMISSION from qualifying purchases using this paid link.)
© 2023 by Barb Roose. All rights reserved.
Barb, I’ve been using your book for a Lenten study, during this time.
You’ve given the readers a lot to think about and answers to questions regarding King David and Jesus.
I’m home this week due to illness, so praying is a continual action, for myself, for my husband and others. My continuing prayer is “help us to continue to abide in You, Lord”, “Make us stronger in Your strength” and praying for families…that in it’s self is a huge prayer request!
Thank you for your continuing inspirational and encouraged messaging.
Hi Carol, I’m so sorry that you aren’t feeling well this week. We can all follow your example of the prayer that you’ve been praying for yourself and others. So powerful! Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m so that you’re enjoying my Finding Jesus in the Psalms book – may God continue to bless your experience!
Sisters in Christ,
Please pray for my friend, Linda. She has three masses in her breast that look like cancer. Praying for peace, healing and financial aide.
Thank you for your prayers for her.
Connie, thank you for sharing your prayer request. Let’s join together and pray for your friend Linda right now: Almighty God, we acknowledge that You are with us in all circumstances and present in our daily lives. We pray for Linda as she’s awaiting the test results. God, we pray that she knows without a doubt that You are present with her right now. We pray for Your perfect peace and provision in her situation. Great Healer, we pray wisdom for her doctors and health care providers and for Your healing tough. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A beautiful devotional that warms my heart. It is easy to get discouraged these days with all of the horrible things going on in the world and even bad things in my own life. Your devotional puts things in perspective and reminds us to March on and praise God’s name because God IS still here and will WIN in the end. Praise His name.
Hi Pamela, thank you for stopping by Girlfriends in God today – and I’m so glad that God used this devotional to encourage you!