Written in the 10^th century B.C. Psalms 84:¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Functions

Sun overcomes darkness with light and warmth; provides vitamin D; melts what is frozen

You and I live in a fallen creation that is no longer perfect and not even good. Everyone is born in the likeness of Adam with a sinful, rebellious nature.

Our LORD God is a sun to provide light in the darkness

Psalms 119:¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

John 8:¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

What do these words mean to you?

How much time do you spend in His Word?

What steps are you taking to follow Jesus?

What from His Word has given you light recently?

Our LORD God is a sun to provide warmth from the cold

Would you agree the world is cold with indifference and unconcern for you? One of God’s questions to Job concerned the ability of God alone to warm us.

Job 37:¹⁶ Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

¹⁷How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

What do these words mean to you?

Our LORD God provides nourishment

Matthew 6:²⁵ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

²⁶Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

²⁷Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

²⁸And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

²⁹And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

³⁰Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

What do these words mean to you?

Our LORD God can melt feelings and hearts that are cold and frozen

Ezekiel 11:¹⁹ And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

²⁰That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 36:²⁵ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

²⁷And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

I agree these passages taken in context are about what God will do in the future for the Jews, His chosen people. But these words show forth the goodness and love of God and His power to change one’s heart. Is your heart cold? Have you been hurt in the past by circumstances or people important to you? Do you have unresolved issues that weigh you down? Are you disappointed with God? Jesus cares and knows all about you. Will you come to Jesus? He said in Revelation 3:²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

What do these words mean to you?

What about your circumstances today causes you to desire His sun?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will         accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti