Becky Austin

When Comparison Matters

4:00 PM



Our Reading: Psalm 73, and Matthew 5:8, John 1:14  


This earthly life is not promised to be good or easy or fair. And certainly, the Bible  informs us that the Christian life has never been promised to be free of heartache, affliction or pain. This is a fallen world and because of that we can become disheartened and discouraged if we lose sight of truth and the perspective of who we are in Christ. Asaph grappled with these issues and I am glad that we have his experiences to learn from. 


I love that he starts this Psalm with a truth that he could use as an anchor. “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” Psalm‬ ‭73‬:‭1‬ ‭ Life may not be fair and circumstances may drastically alter our earthly fortunes but God’s love and goodness remain unwavering. That should be our constant anchor as well. 

“It is well to make sure of what we do know, for this will be a good anchor-hold for us when we are molested by those mysterious storms which arise from things which we do not understand.” (Spurgeon)


The enemy will try to discourage us and one of his most effective tactics is to make us feel discontent through envy and comparison. Asaph became frustrated when he focused on all the people around him who pursued evil and yet seemed to prosper and have an easier life.

“But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Psalm‬ ‭73‬:‭2‬-‭3‬

In fact, he began to question why it even mattered to try and live a God honoring life.  “Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.”  Psalm‬ ‭73‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭


Fortunately, Asaph did the right thing and sought truth from the counsel of God. This allowed him to take his focus off of his own self centered, narrow perspective and to gain God’s broader, more eternal perspective. Asaph was relieved that he sought truth before passing on his embittered mindset and attitude to others.

“If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!”  Psalm‬ ‭73‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭


The attitudes and values we cling to can have a profound impact on our friends, our children, and society at large. Just look at the constant comparisons, the scramble to be in the spotlight and the unattainable beauty standards of our modern day social media influencers. It’s becoming harder to find true Christian values being taught and respected. Asaph almost lost sight of what really mattered and so can each of us if we are not careful. 


God wants us to be grounded in our hope and trust in Him. He wants us to realize  that this earthly life is important because of the mark we can leave upon it that honors Him. This life teaches us to draw closer to God and depend on Him. As we buried my sister in law just before Christmas, I reflected on her life. She suffered with Stage 4 breast cancer for 6 years but her faith and testimony for God touched so many lives. Her strength astounded me and it encouraged me because it came from walking close to God in the midst of her trials. Her life was far from a fairy tale life, but it was a beautiful life because it glorified and honored Him.


Asaph realized the true value of his life as well. He turned away from the false narrative of the enemy and embraced the truth of God. “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm‬ ‭73‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭


Here is an important truth for us to grasp. Every life will end. All beauty will fade. All material gain as well as fame can only be temporary. We are not put on this earth to live a life of glamour or fame, or to have luxury and ease. We are put on this earth to live a life that glorifies God no matter what our unique circumstances may be. The only comparison that matters is this: The eternal condition of our heart and our destiny beyond this fleeting life.

“For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm‬ ‭73‬:‭27‬-‭28‬

Becky Austin

Who Do You Say That I Am? ( Mark 8)

12:30 PM



Reading: Mark 8

I read through this chapter many times because there is so much to process and meditate on. What stood out to me, though, was the question Jesus asked his disciples.  “Who do you say that I am?” And I thought about how much we hear during our lives about various opinions, concepts, and ideas that others have about Jesus. But, Jesus is asking each of us the same question and we are required to answer that question on a personal level. What would you say if asked by Jesus “ Who do you say that I am?”  More importantly than your words, what would your actions reveal about what your heart truly believes?

As the disciples are discussing (and we can assume fretting) because they forgot to pack food for their journey and only have one loaf of bread, Jesus asks: “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (v17-18). He reminded them about not one, but two occasions where they had been in this same situation and witnessed his miraculous provision. Aren’t we much the same though in our human reasoning. We forget all the times Jesus has provided and helped us. We forget who He really is and how we can trust Him to provide for our needs. 

Jesus indeed is glad to show us miraculous signs and wonders but only if those signs and wonders are for a truly seeking and respectful heart. He wants to bolster our faith and enter into a relationship with us. But do we seek Him or what He can do for us? When we have other motives for coming to Jesus, he doesn’t want to waste His time. Just like the Pharisees who had evil motives for asking things of Him. “The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."” (v11-12) What are your motives for approaching the lamb of God?

If, like Peter, we confess that we believe Jesus is the Christ, do we then reject the things He tells us or asks of us that we don’t want to hear or face? Do we cling to His words and accept His will or do we let Satan take over our thoughts and control our reactions? This is a spiritual battle that may test our beliefs in Jesus often. But Jesus can rebuke Satan. And just like Peter, Jesus can forgive us and restore us to Him when we are truly repentant. He doesn’t give up on us but He does ask hard things of us. If we believe He is Christ, the Savior of the world, then we know that no matter what He requires of us, He has given us the security of our soul and there is  nothing else in this life that matters. “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (v34-36)

So, ask yourself, as you think about your life and it’s purpose and value.....
If Jesus stood in front of you right now and asked “ Who do you say that I am?”, what would your true answer be? And ask yourself this also. Do you know “of Him” or do you earnestly seek to “ know” Him? He already knows each of us intimately and personally and He longs to make Himself known to us intimately and personally. It’s why He came to earth and suffered so much. We are precious in His eyes but is He precious in our ours?