God's Tug - Two Men

Two Men

April 6, 2011

¹How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hid your face from me? ² Ho long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? ³ Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give me light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death: ⁴ my enemy will say, “I have overcome him.” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. ⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love: my heart rejoices in your salvation. ⁶ I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.    Psalm 13

¹⁹  And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20

When doing my meditations this morning I realized there were two men in the Bible to whom I look at as examples of Godly men. David wrote many of the Psalms and sang to God about everything. David complained. David told God of his fear. David praised God. David told God how angry he was at Him. David kind of smirked a little (I can’t think of any other word) when God destroyed his enemies. David told God he loved him. David asked for God’s help, but most of all, David told God he trusted Him. I’ve often heard many people say that someone is not supposed to pray for specific things. Using David’s example, it looks like it’s ok to ask God for almost anything in prayer.

As a Pharisee, Paul persecuted Jesus. We all know what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul’s writings are strong, passionate, and frank in their belief that Jesus as the Son of God. After his conversion, Paul didn’t have the rich life that David did as a king, or even a somewhat comfortable life as a shepherd and after everyone stopped trying to kill him (although David spent quite a bit of his life hiding in caves). Paul spent most of his life after his conversion in prison, in chains, shipwrecks, starving, in rags, and other struggles that make most of our lives appear easy. Yet, Paul stood up for God’s truth and he wasn’t going to let anyone persuade him otherwise. And did Paul ask Jesus for anything in prayer? I’m sure he did, but he spent much of his ministry teaching, admonishing, and helping people. His epistles show that Paul praised Jesus, in addition to being a teacher.

Two very different men. Two different approaches to God. Two men convinced in their faith. I’m not anything like these two men in their passionate approaches to our Lord. But in looking at them as examples, I do my best to follow what they did when praying to God and I thank my Father for the example of their lives that helps me move closer to Jesus.

God’s Blessings upon you, your families, and your furkids (if any).

Michelle Rose