His Passion - Our Path

I give up!

What are some symbols or gestures of giving up?

White Flag

Putting your hands up! Like when you are stopped by the cops, they may tell you to put your hands up to prevent you from reaching for something that might help you get away or hurt them. Also, putting our hands up is a sign of giving up what we are doing. I have heard that there are times when a group of employees go on strike they will put their tools down, raise up their hands and walk out of the building.

Have you ever felt like giving up on something? Just throw your hands up and say “ENOUGH!” I have! Do you know that prayer is a way of throwing your hands up in a good way? It is! Lets look into it.

Pray and Read Psalm 25.

Psalm 25 NRSV

Of David. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose. They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.

II. This psalm is divided up in two ways. The first is just something interesting to note is that if you were to see this in the original Hebrew, it is written as an Acrostic. The first letter of each line lays out the Hebrew Alphabet. This makes it easy to remember, and can be used as a way to teach the ordinances of God. The second, is the three different prayers that are stated. In verses 1-5 the psalmist, who is King David, is asking the Lord to teach him about who He is. David is saying, I am staying right here until you show me Your path, Your ways, Your will. In verses 6-11 David is asking that God forgive all his sins, from those when he was youth to up through this moment. David pleads with God to remember God’s Covenant Love of Salvation for those who seek God’s grace and will. Finally, David ends the psalm with a declaration for God’s blessings and Wisdom as he follows the will of God. It seems that the psalm is a prayer of walking with God.

To walk with God, to be His children, first we must be willing to learn and to be taught God’s way and about who our God is in character and His nature. We also must seek forgiveness of our own wants and wills, leaving the desires of this world behind, giving them up for God’s better way. Then, we must walk in this way that God has taught us each day of our lives. Basically a repetition of seeking God, leaving behind our wants and seeing the Fruit of God’s salvation in our lives in the blessings, providence that God gives to His children. This is the Christian journey.

III. Let’s talk about Jesus Christ in all of this.

IV. Let’s talk about the symbol of a white flag for a bit more.