03-12-24-ENG.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Psalm 37:7–11

The Hoover Dam produces enough energy for California, Nevada, and Arizona. It is concentrated power under control. Because of this, it can produce enough for all three states. But if you ever loose that water, it would bring disaster to the very areas it was designed to help. When power exists without control, it’s a tsunami. It’s a flood. It’s a torrent of chaos sweeping over and through the land, destroying all life in its way. We’ve all seen people on the news or elsewhere who seem to have lost all sense of control. It’s enough to make you think they must have gone crazy. They are doing things that are unconscionable. This is because they have lost the ability to control their own life-force—the power they have within them. As we’ve been reviewing in the last few devotionals, living with the value of gentleness translates into living with the value of self-control. You cannot have one without the other.

When you and I surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we are to surrender our gifts, skills, talents, and personal strength under the authority of God. Most of the chaos we are facing today in homes, communities, churches, and in our culture is simply due to a lack of self-control. Personal surrender to the legitimate authority of God’s rule is the key to living out the fullness of your destiny. I want you to remember that meekness is never translated as weakness. Uncontrolled passions, uninhibited desires, and all forms of sin are weakness. Sin brings about terrible consequences in a person’s life. Humility and surrender bring about blessing.

As we saw in a previous day’s Scripture reading of Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” We discover more about what it means to inherit the earth when we look at another passage found in Psalm 37. Sprinkled throughout this psalm are references to inheriting the earth or receiving the blessing of God’s provision. The psalmist begins by warning us not to become frustrated or upset when we see evil people flourish. He writes, “Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb” (vv. 1–2).

In the beginning of this passage, we are reminded that what we see physically taking place isn’t always God’s endgame. It’s a step in the process where God ultimately defeats evil. Those who learn how to remain self-controlled and live according to His kingdom values will experience a greater provision of His intended blessings in our lives as He carries out His will on earth. 

Reaction: 
What thoughts go through your head when you see people who are clearly living outside the will of God, prospering by the world’s standards? Have you witnessed someone living outside God’s will be brought to a place of humility? If yes, what did you learn by witnessing this? How can we encourage others in our lives to live in a spirit of gentleness? 

Prayer: 
Jesus, Your prescribed kingdom values are there to help us so that we can enjoy Your blessings and benefits and be free from the consequences of our own sins. Help me not react to those around me whom I see prospering outside of Your prescribed kingdom values, but rather let me trust in Your Word found in Psalm 37. I want to stay in alignment under You and not be caught up in my own emotional reactions that take me outside Your will. In Your name I pray, amen.