David Bahn – Reflections

⁶ Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.

A young couple is struggling with the death of their four year old daughter. She got ill after contracting a deadly infection and died well before her years. The child’s mother is in a discipleship group and spoke recently about God’s continuing work in her heart. She shared that she does not understand why this happened, and that she does not want to become bitter, but is seeking God’s help and comfort in the face of their loss.

Another woman in her group wrote to this woman: “I am so thankful and humbled by your attitude and witness through your pain and grief. You give me great encouragement as I see you walk through this difficult time without becoming bitter.”

We should never believe that even the most faithful follower of Jesus is without sin. The Psalmist here confesses his own folly and wrongs. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:22-23). But we should never presume that others’ pain or difficulty is a result of their sin. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Christians and non-Christians alike experience joy and sorrow.

Those who live under Christ in his Kingdom, however, seek to honor him in all circumstances. We deeply desire to see the goodness of God in our lives. But we also seek to point people to God and his goodness, faithfulness, justice and love. The greatest difference between one who lives under Christ in his Kingdom and those who do not is how we yearn for the King’s name to be honored. We honor his name when we do the right thing. We honor his name when we seek his Kingdom. We honor his name when we serve him and his people. We honor his name most of all when we seek his honor among others by our humility and faithfulness in the face of tragedy and suffering.