I am often struck by how relevant the Word of God is to us today. Psalm 12 was written thousands of years ago, yet reminds us that things really have not changed in our world today.<\/p>\n
Here is Psalm 12 in the New Living Translation. Read it and see if you believe it speaks to our culture today:<\/p>\n
1<\/span><\/span> Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The faithful have vanished from the earth!<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 2<\/span><\/span> Neighbors lie to each other,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 3<\/span><\/span> May the Lord cut off their flattering lips<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>and silence their boastful tongues.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 4<\/span><\/span> They say, <\/span>\u201cWe will lie to our hearts<\/span>content.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Our lips are our own<\/span>, <\/span>who can stop us?<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u0094<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 5<\/span><\/span> The Lord replies, <\/span>\u201cI have seen violence done to the helpless,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>and I have heard the groans of the poor.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Now I will rise up to rescue them,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>as they have longed for me to do.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u0094<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/span><\/span> The Lord<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s promises are pure,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>like silver refined in a furnace,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>purified seven times over.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/span><\/span> Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>preserving them forever from this lying generation,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 8<\/span><\/span> even though the wicked strut about,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>and evil is praised throughout the land.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Even though it looks as though evil is winning, I am grateful to be serving in a church and a ministry that is defeating the enemy and fulfilling the pure promises of God to protect the oppressed. That’s what Faith Church and Vision of Hope are commissioned to do: care for those who have been oppressed and to rescue those who have experienced great pain, violence, and hardship. We do that for the glory of God and we are thrilled when God redeems one of our residents and uses her past experiences as a testimony of how she has been reconciled to Christ and now living for Him. God never wastes our pain and He has provided Vision of Hope as a refuge for young women to grow in Christ and to become what He has ordained for them to be. God keeps His Word and He can be trusted completely.<\/p>\n Join us in this conversation by answering this question: “How has God been faithful to you? What reasons do you have to praise Him?”<\/p>\n -Pastor Mark Shaw (praising God for His purified promises)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"