Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Psalm 73
“I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand” (Psalm 73:22-23)
When we introspect ourselves, who are we, Christ’s followers, compared to those in the world? What makes us different from those around us who do not profess Christ? It is a stark question to ask because many are unrepentant around us. We interact with worldly people daily. What differentiates them and us?
Asaph sings in Psalm 73 with profound truth about this matter. On two ends of the extreme, we easily consider worldly people either, no different to us, befriending them without thinking twice, or strangers who should not be associated with. If we only look at the similarities and differences on the outside, we will leave much room for Satan to deceive us.
The reality is, in person and nature, we are the same as the world. Woe to the arrogant who see themselves more holy, sanctified, and dignified than those of the world. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”.
What does that mean? Romans 1:18 reveals how the wrath of God is awaiting all sinners who have suppressed the truth of God. Not only that, Romans 1:28 says, “God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”.
These statements are not only true for worldly people; they are true of us, Christians. We are all sinners. We all suppressed God’s truth. We all deserve God’s wrath, and we all have gone astray, turned our own way, and God in His wrath has left us to do the evil we desired.
Asaph said, “Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin” (Psalm 73:18). See the wrath of God and the extent of sin there is in you and me. There is nothing inherent in you or me that makes us better than the world. What then makes us different as Christians?
Asaph realises his state when he says, “I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.” Yet, the one thing that he had that separated him from the world was God himself. What makes us different from the world? It is only God’s grace that enables us to be loved by God and have a relationship with Him.
What makes us different is this: God is continually with us. He holds our right hand. He guides us and gives us counsel. He will bring us into His eternal glory in the future. He is our strength and portion even when we fail and falter. He is our refuge.
See that in all these things, God is the active one. We do not do anything. God actively chose to love us and guide our life. He chose to be faithful to us. He chose to prepare for us an eternal home. He chose to be our strength and portion. He decided to be a refuge for us. We did nothing. The one thing that differentiates us is God’s grace.
If we can grasp this, our hearts should be humbled and brought low. Trust in God in your heart. Know that you are nothing, yet God decided to love you. Ask God for a sincere heart that can say, “whom have I in heaven but you? and there is nothing on earth that I desire but you” (Psalm 73:25). Only God can reveal these things about Himself to us. Ask that we may understand and our eyes are opened.
Lord, please let me get to know You. Let me really see who You are and who I am. Create in me a humble heart. Shape me and mould me into what You want me to be. Show me Your glory, and do not pass me by. Let me grow in faith and truly get to know You. I also pray for my generation that You may reveal Yourself to those who are Your children. Thank You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.