Psalm 83:2 says, "O God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God." Asaph, who wrote this Psalm, prayed that God would not be silent as His enemies constantly attacked Him. Asaph continued to pray, "Don't you hear the uproar of your enemies? Don't you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up? (vs. 2). What is happening in the days of Asaph is also happening today. We see many people all over the world attacking God. Many of them think that God is on their side, but in reality, they are fighting God. The apostle Paul persecuted Jesus before Jesus revealed Himself to him (Acts 9). We should not be surprised if we hear in the media how people are against God. However, we need to remember that God does not need our protection because God is more than capable of protecting Himself. He is the God who created the universe, including the earth and everything in it. He is the God who created us. As a result, He has the power to take our lives. God can easily destroy His enemies like what He did in the time of Noah. Confused his enemies like what He did in the tower of Babel, and destroyed them like what He did in Sodom and Gomorrah.
The source of evil against God is Satan himself. Satan's lies influence the people who attack God, and God knows it. It is the reason God hates what the people are doing against Him, but He loves them as a person, who are created in His image. God hates sin, but he loves the sinners, and this is the reason He died for the sins of the world (John 3:16). Jesus wants to give the sinners a chance to believe in Him to be saved and forgiven of their sins. We should not hate those who are against God, but we should love them by praying for their salvation. It is easy to judge those who are against God, but God already judges them. What they need is to be saved so that their eyes will be opened, just like what happened to the apostle Paul. Every one of us was lost at some point, and God freed us from Satan's lies through our faith in Jesus.
Let us not grow tired of being witnesses to the unsaved and continue to pray for them, even when they attack God. God wants us to show the world His love and truth. No matter how bad a person is, he needs a savior just like us.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Who is the ultimate source of hating and attacking God? Does God hate sinners? What is God's ultimate desire for those who attack Him?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me today that you hate sin but love sinners. You don't tolerate sinners' sins, and that is why you sent Jesus to die for the sins of this world so that sinners can know and walk in your righteousness. Please help me not to judge the sinners but to pray for their salvation. Please give me compassion for the lost. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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