Encouragement from Elder Brian Yau

Greetings Westside!

I hope you've been enjoying this beautiful summer without forest fires and taking in His glory displayed in creation. I wanted to encourage you with words from David in Psalm 138:1-2.

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
Psalm 138:1-2

Often, we read verses like these and stop only at the first half of verse 2 where we are in adoration and are thankful for God's steadfast love and faithfulness. At this point, we consider all his blessings and goodness and say a grand "Amen!" to that notion. And rightly so—we ought to give thanks for His love and faithfulness towards us.

But amidst this focus on how God has been loving and faithful to us, we may also forget to read the rest of the verse where we see that the object of his love and faithfulness is first and foremost His name and His word. And rightly so. Spurgeon once said of God being true to his word, "if this Book be not the real solid foundation of our religion, what have we to build upon? If God has spoken a lie, where are we, brethren?" Elsewhere in Scripture, we see God delivering his people time and time again from oppression and bondage not because they deserve it but because He is zealous for His own glory and name (and gracious to the utmost!). While we should certainly worship the Lord for his love and faithfulness to us, let us first worship Him because of his love and faithfulness for Himself. For if He is not true to Himself, what hope do we have that He will be true to us? 

Summer time is often full of fun and lightheartedness. We are quick to praise God for the blessings of long days, warm weather and memories made on beaches, patios or at the summit of a glorious hike. Yet, let us not make the error of worshipping and thanking our God only for his great blessings to us. May we be quick to praise God because He loves and is faithful to His name and His word, and on that premise we have joy everlasting and assurance of eternity. Let us not reflect on His blessings and turn the focus inward but rather upward, making use of every opportunity and experience of joy and pleasure this summer to speak of His integrity and immutability. 

It is no wonder then, that David finishes Psalm 138 in verse 8 saying, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands." In other words, we can trust that God will continue to build His church and fulfill his purposes for Westside because He is true to Himself. He will not allow His glory to be diminished; His name will not endure tarnishing and His word will not return void. Of those things we can be sure and of those things we can truly rejoice and take heart.

Hallelujah and amen!  

In Christ,

— Brian & Erin Yau

Categories: Encouragement