Psalm 27:3-4 (ESV)
3 yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
“I will remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Today marks the last day of Movement Control Order (MCO) Phase 1. Last, but not final. Phase 2 begins tomorrow, a call for this extension is necessary for the nation. Yay! Yes! (clap hands, lift high) Argh! No! (frowns, throw fists in the air). All sorts of voice and facial expressions adorn Malaysians when this was announced. I am sure all of us bear some kind of sentiment towards this order. How do you feel? That will depends on what’s the tide in your own spirit.
I am sure in some ways we tell ourselves, “this shall soon pass”, and yes, you’re right. It is not a wishful thinking. It will. “yet I will be confident.” (Psalm 27:3b). “I will remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13, NIV) The Lord promises good and life. Even when calamity, disasters and war broke out against King David, he hid in the presence of God and yearned nothing else but asked of ONE THING.
The one thing that gets him through.
The one thing that really matters.
The one thing that will consummate him with the Lover of his soul.
Because in this one thing – he kept his focus, he saw the beauty of God’s holiness. In this one thing – “he inquires”. In this one thing, he made complete opportunity (MCO) of his time with God. Shouldn’t our #MCO be such?
The extension has a medical and health purpose for the eradication of Covid-19. We’ve been graced with the extension to enjoy the ONE THING. The one thing that promises us that we are confident irrespective of circumstances. The one thing that will consummate us with Christ. When we are consummated, he pours the weight of his compassion into our hearts; a holy burden arises in us to call forth his healing and salvation as we carry the people and the land together with him. The MCO is designed for his children to make complete opportunity in the spirit realm.
It is not meant for our idleness, mere enjoyment nor detest. This MCO is for us to rest in him and be robust in spirit. Without us being broken to be filled with compassion, we cannot carry the Cross. God looks for “the broken heart and a contrite spirit” to fill with his compassion. (Psalm 34:18)
Are you broken?
“Gracious Father, I humble myself and ask that you will break me. Break every part of me that you need to so that you can fill me anew. I will ask for that one thing that King David asked. Give me the right attitude towards MCO – not for own selfish enjoyment nor detest. Let me make complete opportunity of this time with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Note: I retired to bed last night asking that we, the church will have compassion of Christ. The Lord spoke before I opened my eyes this morning, as above. This is a confirmation what he has been leading past two weeks. Our hearts are not broken enough to carry his burdens.
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 31 March 2020.