PSALM 145:14 – The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

THEME OF THE DAY. HELD AND HELPED BY HIS STRONG ARMS. It is a sure thing. It will not be avoided. It happens to every Christian. It is part of the journey to heaven. Though painful and remorseful, it will prove to be one of the greatest tools God uses to teach us valuable spiritual lessons and make us more like Christ. This “it” is our times of spiritual falls and stumbles along the pilgrim way. Since this is a choice way God teaches us, what are a couple of lessons we learn from our spiritual falls and stumbles?

First, we really learn how weak and prone to wander from God we are in and of ourselves. In my sixteen years of pastoral ministry, there is a really easy way to determine the maturity level of a Christian. When this Christian sees or hears of another brother or sister fall into sin or give into temptation and the response is “How could he or she? I just cannot imagine how that happened. I would never do that.” That immature believer is headed for a humbling fall of some kind. Another way to discern an immature Christian is by the attitude of self-righteousness that appears in so many ways. I have seen those looks of self-righteousness. It is a spiritual arrogance and pride that is exposed when confronted with truth that convicts and corrects. I admit, I have the great vantage point from the pulpit when God’s Word, His Sword, cuts the heart of a self-righteous Christian. I see the defensiveness in their faces or the turning of the head away in self-justifying dismissal. I say all that for this . . . when we do fall, and all of us, even the self-righteous, will fall, God will use the fall to humble us. It is His marvelous work of turning sin for good; to show us just how dependent we are on His saving and keeping grace. So, when that spiritual stumble comes, let God show us what we really are and our constant need of His grace.

Another truth we learn from our spiritual falls and stumbles is found in today’s scripture; who God saves, God keeps. Jesus told us this glorious truth about God’s keeping power of His children – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:27-30). Held and helped by the strong arms of God! Not sometimes but all the time, even when we are falling and stumbling! Hold on to Him tight because He is holding on to you tighter.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for Your covenant faithfulness to me.”

QUOTE: “Christian, you will fall and stumble on your way to heaven but you will not fall away. Who God saves, God keeps.”