[I didn't have a chance to post this on Sunday, but I wanted to share what I got yesterday anyway].
And the costliest! It took the Israelites 40 years in the wilderness to get it! What is that asset? Humility! How rare is it? Just look around you. I look into my own heart and life, and I'm not even sure it's there. But one thing I do know, I've been through the wilderness (seems like 40 years anyway!), and now that it's time to enter the Promised Land. I'm hoping the wilderness experience did it's job, and I will be able to walk humble and not stumble.
"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not." Deuteronomy 8:2
The blessings and requirements of the Promised Land demand the character of humility! We won't be able to stand, much less bring glory to God, if we are in pride. The Lord makes it clear that the temptations to pride will be great in our new territory. Just think: He has to remove seven mighty "nations" to make room for you! He will be so big in you that He's going to have to take down a lot of the works of the devil that you encounter in your new land to make room for you and His work! Seven - a completed number - He won't leave anything there to torment you if you will totally submit to Him and follow His directions! This is good promise here!! Grab it! Hold on!
In Luke we get a great picture of Jesus honoring humility: Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:44-48 NKJV
Worship Jesus in humility, and it's a sweet-smelling fragrance to Him and to others!
One key to humility is remembering the works of God in your life - staying thankful for His grace, salvation and forgiveness. One hindrance to humility is condemnation! This might sound contradictory, but it's not. Pharisees and other hypocrites join right in with the devil in seeing us in the sin of our present and past, and naming us with it. This does not help us stay humble, it gets our eyes on our self and lies to us - so don't join it, rebuke it! No matter what your past is, He's got a good plan for you. When Jesus calls us "Forgiven" we are forgiven. He called us that on the cross! It's up to us to believe that, grab a hold of it, thank Him for it, and walk in the freedom from our sin that He bought for us.
Humility in our heart will keep us in constant dependency on God, and impel us to remain current with our repentance. We may be maturing in the Lord, but we still need forgiveness - and we still need our feet washed. If Jesus could allow a woman with a "bad reputation" to wash His feet, we can certainly let Him wash ours!
Agreeing with God is the essence of true humility. Agree with Him about His promises to make you great in the heavenly Kingdom. Agree with Him about His lordship, your need for Him, and His "always rightness".
Walk humble, and you won't stumble.
Showing posts with label character. Show all posts
Showing posts with label character. Show all posts
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, October 29, 2010
October 29, 2010 Private Righteousness
I love today's Psalm for its applicability to my life, and it's ability to convict me when I need it! I like it better in the hard-cover version I read most days:
"I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it?
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base." Psalm 101:2-3a NRSV
I've had years of practice at walking with the Lord at home-- from being a stay-at-home mom with three kids, to a work-at-home artist and writer. Most of the time it is only the Lord who knows whether I have lived with integrity or not, although the fruit that I have borne, good or bad, all comes from this tree, grown at home. Especially now, when the routine of raising children is over, there are lots of opportunities to waste time on worthless things. Even though I'm careful not to get into evil things, I've discovered that even "harmless" things can steal the fruit I was meant to bear. Since Jesus Himself is my righteousness, and the Way in which I'm to walk, staying in His presence is the only way I'm going to attain a useful and blameless life that pleases Him. If I don't purposely set myself to live before Him at all times, I can easily drift (and occasionally do).
As a person who spends a great deal of time alone, I've discovered that my worst enemy is myself. I believe David realized this as well, and expressed it in this Psalm. If I do nothing but look into the mirror, I'm going to have to deal with a person who could possibly: do something base, fall away from grace, be perverse of heart, think evil thoughts, secretly slander someone, have a haughty or arrogant attitude, practice deceit or utter lies. If I don't face up to the wickedness that dwells in my own selfish nature, I've already practiced deceit with myself. So I'm with David-- I'm not going to wear a mask to fool myself (and I can't fool God, of course). Instead, I'm going to get into conflict with all evil that thinks it wants to dwell in my private lodgings. "Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the Lord." vs 8 NRSV
And in the holographic sense, I'm the city of the Lord, and so are you.
"I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it?
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base." Psalm 101:2-3a NRSV
I've had years of practice at walking with the Lord at home-- from being a stay-at-home mom with three kids, to a work-at-home artist and writer. Most of the time it is only the Lord who knows whether I have lived with integrity or not, although the fruit that I have borne, good or bad, all comes from this tree, grown at home. Especially now, when the routine of raising children is over, there are lots of opportunities to waste time on worthless things. Even though I'm careful not to get into evil things, I've discovered that even "harmless" things can steal the fruit I was meant to bear. Since Jesus Himself is my righteousness, and the Way in which I'm to walk, staying in His presence is the only way I'm going to attain a useful and blameless life that pleases Him. If I don't purposely set myself to live before Him at all times, I can easily drift (and occasionally do).
As a person who spends a great deal of time alone, I've discovered that my worst enemy is myself. I believe David realized this as well, and expressed it in this Psalm. If I do nothing but look into the mirror, I'm going to have to deal with a person who could possibly: do something base, fall away from grace, be perverse of heart, think evil thoughts, secretly slander someone, have a haughty or arrogant attitude, practice deceit or utter lies. If I don't face up to the wickedness that dwells in my own selfish nature, I've already practiced deceit with myself. So I'm with David-- I'm not going to wear a mask to fool myself (and I can't fool God, of course). Instead, I'm going to get into conflict with all evil that thinks it wants to dwell in my private lodgings. "Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the Lord." vs 8 NRSV
And in the holographic sense, I'm the city of the Lord, and so are you.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
October 16, 2010 The Merciful Conscience
It's the insights we receive in our quiet study of the Word of God, and the applications we see as we internally meditate on that Word during our day, that prepare us for the things we face, day in and day out. We don't suddenly decide what we believe and how to react when someone accuses us falsely to our face, or when our child throws a temper tantrum in the middle of Walmart. We don't have time to think then-- we just react. Or better yet, respond. Responses we'll be happy with, and that will please the Lord, will be determined in the quiet times we spend with the Lord, not on the fly.
Reading Paul's instructions to Timothy today sounded so much like a loving father getting his son ready for dealing with people-- maybe some really obnoxious people-- getting him ready for times he'd more likely react than respond. It's like he was saying to him, "Son, when you're studying the Word, make sure you study how to be merciful." Paul gives us some tips.
He was telling Timothy that as much as we hate evil and want to teach people the right way, we first must be patient and merciful. The key to this is to remember how we've been in the past. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief," said Paul, who went on to express his appreciation for the mercy that Christ had shown him. I know we can all relate. The Lord expects us to take this mercy and pass it on. Without mercy, we are not instructing people, we are setting ourselves up as their judge. "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith," Paul explains. Without mercy, we will not have any of these, for we will not even forgive ourselves.
Our biggest incentive to be merciful, rather than legalistic and vengeful, is that God is: "O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." Psalm 86: 14-15 NKJV
As hard as it is to swallow sometimes, we must be merciful with sinners, because if we're not, we're "rejecting conscience." God will eventually punish the wicked. For now, it is our job to instruct in righteousness and to offer the saving grace of Christ.
Reading Paul's instructions to Timothy today sounded so much like a loving father getting his son ready for dealing with people-- maybe some really obnoxious people-- getting him ready for times he'd more likely react than respond. It's like he was saying to him, "Son, when you're studying the Word, make sure you study how to be merciful." Paul gives us some tips.
He was telling Timothy that as much as we hate evil and want to teach people the right way, we first must be patient and merciful. The key to this is to remember how we've been in the past. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief," said Paul, who went on to express his appreciation for the mercy that Christ had shown him. I know we can all relate. The Lord expects us to take this mercy and pass it on. Without mercy, we are not instructing people, we are setting ourselves up as their judge. "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith," Paul explains. Without mercy, we will not have any of these, for we will not even forgive ourselves.
Our biggest incentive to be merciful, rather than legalistic and vengeful, is that God is: "O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." Psalm 86: 14-15 NKJV
As hard as it is to swallow sometimes, we must be merciful with sinners, because if we're not, we're "rejecting conscience." God will eventually punish the wicked. For now, it is our job to instruct in righteousness and to offer the saving grace of Christ.
Monday, September 20, 2010
September 20, 2010 A Vision In The Fire
Instead of trying to figure all this out in my mind, I just let the words today swirl around me and soak into me. Don't you just love the visions of the Lord here, how He stands out with such magnificent beauty and glory? The visions of judgment can create an overwhelming fear in people sometimes, but in these passages we are given such a clear vision of the Lord and His indestructible kingdom, that if we keep our eyes on Him we will be able to stand and trust Him until it is all accomplished. Seeing Him in this way reminds me of what the three Hebrew men saw in the firey furnace: the Lord Himself present among them. They came forth without even the smell of smoke on them. When we are in the Lord, this is what our experience will be. Whether we are being persecuted by the wicked, or the fires of judgment burn, we will be preserved and protected by our Savior when we are standing with Him.
Weighed in the balance:
HYPOCRISY
"Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites," Isaiah 33:14
We may be fooled by false righteousness, but it will not hold up against the fire. If we have a fear of judgment, we may want to examine ourselves and see if we are walking in hypocrisy. It can sneak up on us even when we are serious about walking with the Lord. The sure way to stay secure is to
WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Because God looks at the heart, there is no "formula" for living that is fireproof. Good behavior can be hypocrisy when it covers up hidden lust in the heart (and lust is simply whatever is motivating the flesh at the time). God is so good to bring things about in such a way as to reveal to us what we thought was the fruit of the Spirit but was only our own effort at being good.
Only the fruit of the Spirit can hold up under pressure, and fire. There is no reason to worry about this: walk with Him and trust Him to reveal what needs to be revealed. A desire to walk in the Spirit, and humble prayer for the Lord to teach us how, will set us on the path. His voice is always leading us, so all we must do is listen and obey. The Word is our guide as well; if we neglect the Word, it's harder to hear Him speak to us in our heart. The good news is, if you are born again, it is natural for you to walk in the Spirit! The more mature you get, the more swiftly you will run. You are free to BE in Him, you see!
Questions to ponder:
What fruits of the Spirit have you been able to see in your life lately? How about in your spouse, child or friend? Have you ever thought about mentioning it to them? How would you feel if someone pointed out a fruit of the Spirit that they saw growing in your life?
What is it about hypocrisy that bothers you the most? In yourself? In another? What is your response to it? What did Jesus say about it?
What would hypocrisy look like on a national level? What should our response be to hypocrisy in the government or in our leaders?
Weighed in the balance:
HYPOCRISY
"Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites," Isaiah 33:14
We may be fooled by false righteousness, but it will not hold up against the fire. If we have a fear of judgment, we may want to examine ourselves and see if we are walking in hypocrisy. It can sneak up on us even when we are serious about walking with the Lord. The sure way to stay secure is to
WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Because God looks at the heart, there is no "formula" for living that is fireproof. Good behavior can be hypocrisy when it covers up hidden lust in the heart (and lust is simply whatever is motivating the flesh at the time). God is so good to bring things about in such a way as to reveal to us what we thought was the fruit of the Spirit but was only our own effort at being good.
Only the fruit of the Spirit can hold up under pressure, and fire. There is no reason to worry about this: walk with Him and trust Him to reveal what needs to be revealed. A desire to walk in the Spirit, and humble prayer for the Lord to teach us how, will set us on the path. His voice is always leading us, so all we must do is listen and obey. The Word is our guide as well; if we neglect the Word, it's harder to hear Him speak to us in our heart. The good news is, if you are born again, it is natural for you to walk in the Spirit! The more mature you get, the more swiftly you will run. You are free to BE in Him, you see!
Questions to ponder:
What fruits of the Spirit have you been able to see in your life lately? How about in your spouse, child or friend? Have you ever thought about mentioning it to them? How would you feel if someone pointed out a fruit of the Spirit that they saw growing in your life?
What is it about hypocrisy that bothers you the most? In yourself? In another? What is your response to it? What did Jesus say about it?
What would hypocrisy look like on a national level? What should our response be to hypocrisy in the government or in our leaders?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
July 31, 2010 Suddenly
One of the reasons we're told not to judge others on "doubtful matters"-- things that aren't stated outright in Scripture-- is that we don't know what God is working on with someone else. We don't even know that about ourselves so often. Because Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, it is His job to decide what needs to be changed when. Our job is receive one another, accept one another, and live according to the law of love in order not to trouble others with our mode of life. That is hard enough without trying to fix others.
If any correction needs to happen, let it be done by those with the authority to do so, and let it be on the clear doctrines of Christ, such as fornication.
When King Hezekiah-- grieved by the spiritual adulteries perpetrated by his predecessor-- desired to bring the nation back to a right relationship with God and reinstate the temple worship, he didn't seem to dictate exactly how that was to be done. He exhorted the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and to cleanse out the temple. He told them to take out the rubbish, but he left it to them to do the work. Since we each are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and each of us kings and priests unto the Lord, it is the Holy Spirit's task to lead each one of us as to how to cleanse ourselves from dead works. Some of the rubbish in our souls might be obvious to others, but some of it might look OK to someone else, but the Lord reveals to us that it's not OK for us. "Whatever is not of faith is sin." This is a basic key to walking in holiness (wholeness), but it really comes down to the individual working out their salvation with Christ's leading. We are all in different stages of our growth and development.
The mysterious thing is how the Spirit works in each of us, deep inside our hearts, to prepare us for the next stage. Sometimes we observe a brother or sister who seems to be wandering around in darkness, and then, voila! All of a sudden they seem to have snapped out of it, moving forward in a level of glory that might even pass us by temporarily. We should rejoice when that happens. It gives me hope to know that if I'm struggling in life, God's got it under control, and He's leading me step by step out of the maze of confusion and darkness that I might be in.
I think we can anticipate a sudden "coming round the bend" for the Church in general. God is doing a work in His people, much of it unseen. Christ is still the head of His body. He is still in charge of each individual's salvation process, and of the building of His Kingdom, living stone by living stone. Maybe at this moment some of the trash is being taken out of the temple in one person's life, and another is getting their instrument of praise polished up and ready to go. At the proper time, all will be in order and the glory of God will be seen in a unity, joy and love that is greater than has ever been seen before. This verse will again be very relevant: "All the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly."
2 Chronicles 29:36
If any correction needs to happen, let it be done by those with the authority to do so, and let it be on the clear doctrines of Christ, such as fornication.
When King Hezekiah-- grieved by the spiritual adulteries perpetrated by his predecessor-- desired to bring the nation back to a right relationship with God and reinstate the temple worship, he didn't seem to dictate exactly how that was to be done. He exhorted the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and to cleanse out the temple. He told them to take out the rubbish, but he left it to them to do the work. Since we each are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and each of us kings and priests unto the Lord, it is the Holy Spirit's task to lead each one of us as to how to cleanse ourselves from dead works. Some of the rubbish in our souls might be obvious to others, but some of it might look OK to someone else, but the Lord reveals to us that it's not OK for us. "Whatever is not of faith is sin." This is a basic key to walking in holiness (wholeness), but it really comes down to the individual working out their salvation with Christ's leading. We are all in different stages of our growth and development.
The mysterious thing is how the Spirit works in each of us, deep inside our hearts, to prepare us for the next stage. Sometimes we observe a brother or sister who seems to be wandering around in darkness, and then, voila! All of a sudden they seem to have snapped out of it, moving forward in a level of glory that might even pass us by temporarily. We should rejoice when that happens. It gives me hope to know that if I'm struggling in life, God's got it under control, and He's leading me step by step out of the maze of confusion and darkness that I might be in.
I think we can anticipate a sudden "coming round the bend" for the Church in general. God is doing a work in His people, much of it unseen. Christ is still the head of His body. He is still in charge of each individual's salvation process, and of the building of His Kingdom, living stone by living stone. Maybe at this moment some of the trash is being taken out of the temple in one person's life, and another is getting their instrument of praise polished up and ready to go. At the proper time, all will be in order and the glory of God will be seen in a unity, joy and love that is greater than has ever been seen before. This verse will again be very relevant: "All the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly."
2 Chronicles 29:36
Friday, July 30, 2010
July 30, 2010 Wearing The Armor of Light
I never noticed before that the passage which says to "put on Christ" is the same passage that says to "put on the armor of light." I think that's awesome! In order to wear this armor, we have to put off the works of darkness. These works are related to being asleep, as the world is. When we're awake, we're walking in love, and this isn't compatible with the works of the flesh, which is the self-centeredness of the fallen nature. Once we've awakened to the reality of our salvation, and we get dressed with the brilliant glory of Christ, what darkness can overcome us?
Again, I'm struck with the prophetic vision of David. He had a relationship with Christ even then, and understood the armor of light. He had no need to fear when he found himself in a dark valley shadowed with evil, enemies, and death. "Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever" takes on a deeper meaning when we understand that it's not necessary to get rid of our natural bodies in order to live in a divine tent of perpetual light that goes wherever we go.
"You are with me" becomes a little more intimate when we're thinking of wearing Christ! It also becomes more public. There's no hiding our salvation or our relationship with the Savior when we're wearing the armor of light! The days of "my faith is personal" (meaning "I don't share it with anyone") are over! When you're dressed in light, can you help but be noticed by people who are in the dark? They might be afraid and run away, but many will be drawn to the light that covers you.
Jesus lives in us by His Word and Spirit when we're born again. But salvation has to be more than just an inner belief, as we have discussed earlier. Having light than shines out from the inside and covers us from the outside is the only effective way to be a witness for Christ. If you're dark, you stay hidden in darkness and nobody notices you. Not to mention how Jesus feels about that! The times we walk around incognito are basically times we're denying that we know Him. I'm not saying we have to be religious about our witnessing! I've known people who talked a lot about the Lord, but were essentially walking in darkness. I've been there myself-- and as "easy" as it is to be asleep, being in the dark is torment when you're a child a God.
The devil feeds on "dust" (Genesis 3:14) which is our self-nature; when we don't put off the works of darkness, he can get us even more entangled in webs of deception, addiction and bitterness than we were before we got "saved." When he's prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), he's looking for someone who's not defended, not wearing their armor of light. When we're walking in love, and therefore in the light, we're well defended and have nothing to fear.
Putting our armor on is much more than a morning ritual! Just declaring that we have put on our helmet of salvation, etc., isn't what gets us clothed in light! It's waking up to what salvation really is, and making a command decision to leave the darkness behind. It's called repentance.
We are the children of light! The true light lives in us. Christ's love is shiny and wonderfully resistant to attack. Let's start a fashion trend and wear the light! Shine, shine, shine!
Again, I'm struck with the prophetic vision of David. He had a relationship with Christ even then, and understood the armor of light. He had no need to fear when he found himself in a dark valley shadowed with evil, enemies, and death. "Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever" takes on a deeper meaning when we understand that it's not necessary to get rid of our natural bodies in order to live in a divine tent of perpetual light that goes wherever we go.
"You are with me" becomes a little more intimate when we're thinking of wearing Christ! It also becomes more public. There's no hiding our salvation or our relationship with the Savior when we're wearing the armor of light! The days of "my faith is personal" (meaning "I don't share it with anyone") are over! When you're dressed in light, can you help but be noticed by people who are in the dark? They might be afraid and run away, but many will be drawn to the light that covers you.
Jesus lives in us by His Word and Spirit when we're born again. But salvation has to be more than just an inner belief, as we have discussed earlier. Having light than shines out from the inside and covers us from the outside is the only effective way to be a witness for Christ. If you're dark, you stay hidden in darkness and nobody notices you. Not to mention how Jesus feels about that! The times we walk around incognito are basically times we're denying that we know Him. I'm not saying we have to be religious about our witnessing! I've known people who talked a lot about the Lord, but were essentially walking in darkness. I've been there myself-- and as "easy" as it is to be asleep, being in the dark is torment when you're a child a God.
The devil feeds on "dust" (Genesis 3:14) which is our self-nature; when we don't put off the works of darkness, he can get us even more entangled in webs of deception, addiction and bitterness than we were before we got "saved." When he's prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), he's looking for someone who's not defended, not wearing their armor of light. When we're walking in love, and therefore in the light, we're well defended and have nothing to fear.
Putting our armor on is much more than a morning ritual! Just declaring that we have put on our helmet of salvation, etc., isn't what gets us clothed in light! It's waking up to what salvation really is, and making a command decision to leave the darkness behind. It's called repentance.
We are the children of light! The true light lives in us. Christ's love is shiny and wonderfully resistant to attack. Let's start a fashion trend and wear the light! Shine, shine, shine!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
July 10, 2010 A Little Lower Than God
A big difference, you'll notice, between godly people and the ungodly, is the people of God honor people; the ungodly do not. Although people who don't fear God will idolize others, they'll just as soon tear them down with ridicule. God's people will honor others, whether they deserve it or not, even after they're dead. A key reason for this is that people were made by God in His image, and are His property. If we dishonor others, we dishonor God.
Psalm 8 is one of the most "incredibly" edifying Scripture passages I know. It really does seem incredible to us to think that God would think of us at all, much less visit us, speak to us, and crown us with honor and glory. It is so difficult for fallen humans to accept that He made us "a little lower than God," that the word elohim is often translated here as "angels," even though it's the same Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1-- God created the heavens and the earth. Yes, we had fallen below the angels, but Jesus Christ has been raised up above all, and we are part of His body, even if we are only His feet.
God has always given honor to even the lowliest of positions in service to Him. I hadn't really taken notice of this verse before: "Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office over the things that were baked in the pans." 1 Chronicles 9:31 NKJV Whatever we do, God sees and rewards faithfulness when we're doing it as unto the Lord. Giving others appreciation and affirmation is a way of thanking and praising the Lord. When we consider that each of His children are part of His body, it is easier to honor and affirm them.
Even the ungodly carry the image of God in them, no matter how sullied and twisted, and they might still become part of God's kingdom. It is extremely unbecoming of God's people to put others down in a disgusted fashion, but I see this happening so much in the name of "righteousness." How are we ever to win the lost to Christ if we do not treat people with respect, even if they are sinners? Hating sin is not the same as despising people. God so loved the world. . .
The Apostle Paul was a faithful watcher, even on a tempest-tossed ship. He apparently interceded for everyone, not only to save his own skin. He was visited by an angel to bring the answer to his request-- everyone's life would be spared. There were sailors, soldiers, prisoners, a Roman centurion-- 276 people in all. Many of these must have given their lives to the Lord after that. To me, now, this number will always signify that God values life, even the life of unbelievers.
It is up to us, His people, to watch and pray. The world system is a sinking ship: but God already has a plan in place to save as many souls as will cling to His saving grace.
Psalm 8 is one of the most "incredibly" edifying Scripture passages I know. It really does seem incredible to us to think that God would think of us at all, much less visit us, speak to us, and crown us with honor and glory. It is so difficult for fallen humans to accept that He made us "a little lower than God," that the word elohim is often translated here as "angels," even though it's the same Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1-- God created the heavens and the earth. Yes, we had fallen below the angels, but Jesus Christ has been raised up above all, and we are part of His body, even if we are only His feet.
God has always given honor to even the lowliest of positions in service to Him. I hadn't really taken notice of this verse before: "Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office over the things that were baked in the pans." 1 Chronicles 9:31 NKJV Whatever we do, God sees and rewards faithfulness when we're doing it as unto the Lord. Giving others appreciation and affirmation is a way of thanking and praising the Lord. When we consider that each of His children are part of His body, it is easier to honor and affirm them.
Even the ungodly carry the image of God in them, no matter how sullied and twisted, and they might still become part of God's kingdom. It is extremely unbecoming of God's people to put others down in a disgusted fashion, but I see this happening so much in the name of "righteousness." How are we ever to win the lost to Christ if we do not treat people with respect, even if they are sinners? Hating sin is not the same as despising people. God so loved the world. . .
The Apostle Paul was a faithful watcher, even on a tempest-tossed ship. He apparently interceded for everyone, not only to save his own skin. He was visited by an angel to bring the answer to his request-- everyone's life would be spared. There were sailors, soldiers, prisoners, a Roman centurion-- 276 people in all. Many of these must have given their lives to the Lord after that. To me, now, this number will always signify that God values life, even the life of unbelievers.
It is up to us, His people, to watch and pray. The world system is a sinking ship: but God already has a plan in place to save as many souls as will cling to His saving grace.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 26, 2010 The Prayer Jesus Vouches For
We've talked a little bit about getting our prayers answered, and today there's more. I think that this might be something important to Jesus-- that we pray and receive a "yes" to our prayer! I've come to realize, though, that every prayer is not answered. And that's because every prayer doesn't fit His criteria.
Since I'm not doing a comprehensive study here, we'll just have to go with what we've got so far. On the 24th, we saw that one of the requirements for answered prayer is that it is "in My name." That's a big topic in itself. Let's just say, would Jesus sign on this one? Since prayer is asking God to do something beyond what we can do, wouldn't it be reasonable to ask Him to do something He would actually do? That takes knowing Him and what He has done: does this request fit His character? does it fit Who He is actually is? The only way to know this is to know Him.
I'm grateful that He knows us completely, and takes into consideration our small viewpoint! The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth, so if we need a little guidance in our prayer, He's there to help. He hears us at all levels of our maturity and understanding. But the more mature we are, and the more of the knowledge of God we have, the more effective our prayers are going to be. And the older ones should be teaching the younger ones to pray.
Yesterday, Jesus was saying He wants to dwell in us. Now He's saying He wants us to dwell in Him. When you actually live with people, you really get to know them! We find out who snores and who doesn't close up the cracker box right. We find out who actually walks in love. If you've ever had people in your house for an extended stay, you know you know them better than you did before. And they know you. Jesus is all about knowing each other.
So, if you got up in the morning, got some orange juice and toast, and sat down at the table with Jesus (and of course, the Holy Spirit and the Father are there, too), and you got into this great conversation about something in the Word, I guess you'd have a little better knowledge of Him. That Word would start to really be real. It would start to live in your heart. You would feel pretty confident about asking Him to do that thing He just pointed out in the passage you read together. Plus, you got to see how He acted when little dipsy-doodle two-year-old pee'd on the floor right next to His sandals!
I think we'd get to know Jesus a little more if we realized He's there all the time with us. Holy Spirit is giving us this insider-knowledge of just how Jesus is acting all the time. The ultimate Twitter!
When we really know Him, we ask things we know He'll vouch for. That's when we get our prayers answered with a big, resounding "yes!" And that, my friends, is God's will. It makes us really fruitful. It glorifies Him and pleases Him at least as much as it blesses us.
Since I'm not doing a comprehensive study here, we'll just have to go with what we've got so far. On the 24th, we saw that one of the requirements for answered prayer is that it is "in My name." That's a big topic in itself. Let's just say, would Jesus sign on this one? Since prayer is asking God to do something beyond what we can do, wouldn't it be reasonable to ask Him to do something He would actually do? That takes knowing Him and what He has done: does this request fit His character? does it fit Who He is actually is? The only way to know this is to know Him.
I'm grateful that He knows us completely, and takes into consideration our small viewpoint! The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth, so if we need a little guidance in our prayer, He's there to help. He hears us at all levels of our maturity and understanding. But the more mature we are, and the more of the knowledge of God we have, the more effective our prayers are going to be. And the older ones should be teaching the younger ones to pray.
Yesterday, Jesus was saying He wants to dwell in us. Now He's saying He wants us to dwell in Him. When you actually live with people, you really get to know them! We find out who snores and who doesn't close up the cracker box right. We find out who actually walks in love. If you've ever had people in your house for an extended stay, you know you know them better than you did before. And they know you. Jesus is all about knowing each other.
So, if you got up in the morning, got some orange juice and toast, and sat down at the table with Jesus (and of course, the Holy Spirit and the Father are there, too), and you got into this great conversation about something in the Word, I guess you'd have a little better knowledge of Him. That Word would start to really be real. It would start to live in your heart. You would feel pretty confident about asking Him to do that thing He just pointed out in the passage you read together. Plus, you got to see how He acted when little dipsy-doodle two-year-old pee'd on the floor right next to His sandals!
I think we'd get to know Jesus a little more if we realized He's there all the time with us. Holy Spirit is giving us this insider-knowledge of just how Jesus is acting all the time. The ultimate Twitter!
When we really know Him, we ask things we know He'll vouch for. That's when we get our prayers answered with a big, resounding "yes!" And that, my friends, is God's will. It makes us really fruitful. It glorifies Him and pleases Him at least as much as it blesses us.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 11, 2010 How God Deals With Rejection
There's not a lot you can do when people decide to reject God. If He doesn't force them to accept Him, then how can we presume to do so? In today's passages, we have two examples of people rejecting God, and how He responded to them. Since we humans get rejected now and again, I'd say we could learn something from His example.
The people of Israel wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations (I think this indicates they were a little out-of-sync with God, as He wanted them to be different from all the other nations). Samuel got instructions from the Lord as to what to do about this (he's one of my Bible heroes: he was so accurate in hearing, seeing and speaking God's word!), and the Lord led him to the king who was to be anointed. Now, taking into consideration that the people got what they wanted, this is what Samuel said to them: "But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.” 1 Samuel 10:19 This says to me right away that just because we may have gotten what we asked for doesn't mean that God was pleased with us!
God wanted to be Israel's king Himself, and how could they have had a better one? Even though their rejection of Him was "covert" (not direct), He identified their true condition as rejecting of Him, and He expressed His displeasure to them. Nevertheless, I believe God's heart was to bless the people on whatever level they could accept, so He provided them a king to lead them and deliver them from their enemies. God did not abandon them. He even gave Saul the experience of being "possessed by God's Spirit" so that he had enough knowledge to call upon God to be empowered. Apparently he did so, at least at first.
Now, what did Jesus do when He was rejected? Again, people were often covert in their rejection of Him, yet He always knew what was in their hearts, and He gave them many chances to change their minds. And again, most of the people were only looking to have their physical needs met and weren't looking at things from a heavenly (spiritual) perspective. They wanted Jesus to give them more bread, even demanding that He prove Himself with a miracle of giving them heavenly manna. He told them that He Himself was the "bread from heaven" that would give them eternal life, but the people got offended with Him and stopped following Him. Jesus didn't do the rejecting, but He didn't let Himself be manipulated either. He just told the truth and let the people make a choice.
Jesus didn't reject the people back-- He kept going to their towns preaching, teaching and healing until it was His time to lay down His life for them. He didn't go around flailing them with "bitter diatribes", although I'm sure Jesus was grieved. He also didn't fire Judas from being a disciple: but He did confront Him with His inward rejection. I'm sure Judas had many chances to repent before he gave in to Satan and betrayed Jesus. But Jesus was no dupe; He knew about it all the time.
You wonder how people can reject a God so great and glorious as He is. How can people reject Jesus Christ who offers us forgiveness, salvation on all levels, and eternal life!? Many reject Him outright, and many more reject Him covertly. As a nation, it seems we have rejected God's rule over us and demanded a king. How will that turn out, I wonder? Most seem to reject the Lord Jesus for who He actually is and what He actually said, choosing rather to believe in a Jesus and a Christianity that they have made up themselves to suit their own preferences. And yet, God still loves them and blesses them as much as they will allow. This is our example of how to treat people who reject us. Confront first, as you see God and Jesus did in both examples; do not reject back. However, the intimacy and "top shelf" blessings are reserved for those who accept Him wholeheartedly.
How often do we do covertly reject God, and maybe don't even realize it? I am going to ask Him if I'm doing that in any way. I hope not, but if I am, I know He will be faithful to show me and offer me forgiveness and restoration. Read the Psalm! God responds to us when we repent and call out to Him. Over and over.
The people of Israel wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations (I think this indicates they were a little out-of-sync with God, as He wanted them to be different from all the other nations). Samuel got instructions from the Lord as to what to do about this (he's one of my Bible heroes: he was so accurate in hearing, seeing and speaking God's word!), and the Lord led him to the king who was to be anointed. Now, taking into consideration that the people got what they wanted, this is what Samuel said to them: "But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.” 1 Samuel 10:19 This says to me right away that just because we may have gotten what we asked for doesn't mean that God was pleased with us!
God wanted to be Israel's king Himself, and how could they have had a better one? Even though their rejection of Him was "covert" (not direct), He identified their true condition as rejecting of Him, and He expressed His displeasure to them. Nevertheless, I believe God's heart was to bless the people on whatever level they could accept, so He provided them a king to lead them and deliver them from their enemies. God did not abandon them. He even gave Saul the experience of being "possessed by God's Spirit" so that he had enough knowledge to call upon God to be empowered. Apparently he did so, at least at first.
Now, what did Jesus do when He was rejected? Again, people were often covert in their rejection of Him, yet He always knew what was in their hearts, and He gave them many chances to change their minds. And again, most of the people were only looking to have their physical needs met and weren't looking at things from a heavenly (spiritual) perspective. They wanted Jesus to give them more bread, even demanding that He prove Himself with a miracle of giving them heavenly manna. He told them that He Himself was the "bread from heaven" that would give them eternal life, but the people got offended with Him and stopped following Him. Jesus didn't do the rejecting, but He didn't let Himself be manipulated either. He just told the truth and let the people make a choice.
Jesus didn't reject the people back-- He kept going to their towns preaching, teaching and healing until it was His time to lay down His life for them. He didn't go around flailing them with "bitter diatribes", although I'm sure Jesus was grieved. He also didn't fire Judas from being a disciple: but He did confront Him with His inward rejection. I'm sure Judas had many chances to repent before he gave in to Satan and betrayed Jesus. But Jesus was no dupe; He knew about it all the time.
You wonder how people can reject a God so great and glorious as He is. How can people reject Jesus Christ who offers us forgiveness, salvation on all levels, and eternal life!? Many reject Him outright, and many more reject Him covertly. As a nation, it seems we have rejected God's rule over us and demanded a king. How will that turn out, I wonder? Most seem to reject the Lord Jesus for who He actually is and what He actually said, choosing rather to believe in a Jesus and a Christianity that they have made up themselves to suit their own preferences. And yet, God still loves them and blesses them as much as they will allow. This is our example of how to treat people who reject us. Confront first, as you see God and Jesus did in both examples; do not reject back. However, the intimacy and "top shelf" blessings are reserved for those who accept Him wholeheartedly.
How often do we do covertly reject God, and maybe don't even realize it? I am going to ask Him if I'm doing that in any way. I hope not, but if I am, I know He will be faithful to show me and offer me forgiveness and restoration. Read the Psalm! God responds to us when we repent and call out to Him. Over and over.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
April 28. 2010
The things that Gideon did, and that happened to his family, after he fought off the Midianites are very instructive to me. It's too easy to let it go to our head when God uses us. Now, I can't be sure this is what happened to him, but that's the application I see in it for me. God can use us mightily, but if we don't let God deal with our self-nature issues, our pride can most certainly cause us, and others, to stumble.
It's particularly dangerous if a person makes lots of money from whatever anointing they may have received, or gain lots of fame and attention from people. Human beings don't deal very well with these things. So many people seem to go off the deep end when they're super-successful, whether or not they started out with God. I dealt with some of that stuff a long time ago (in my miniscule brush with fame), and I may have talked about that a little, I can't remember. But I am very glad that the Lord has seen fit to keep me hidden from view for a very long time, while He's worked through so many messed-up things in me, to form Christ in me. I'd like to stay totally hidden until "it's no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me." But really, it's up to the Lord as to what He wants to do with us. My choice would be to stay out of view, but I wouldn't have much influence that way, and it would probably be like burying the talents or hiding the lamp under a bushel.
All I can say is, we've got to stay humble and not get a big head when He does something through us. It's His power and ability, not ours.
Jesus statement on the cross says it all to me, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." It's not until we can love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength-- and trust Him enough to let go--that we can ever get over our self.
It's particularly dangerous if a person makes lots of money from whatever anointing they may have received, or gain lots of fame and attention from people. Human beings don't deal very well with these things. So many people seem to go off the deep end when they're super-successful, whether or not they started out with God. I dealt with some of that stuff a long time ago (in my miniscule brush with fame), and I may have talked about that a little, I can't remember. But I am very glad that the Lord has seen fit to keep me hidden from view for a very long time, while He's worked through so many messed-up things in me, to form Christ in me. I'd like to stay totally hidden until "it's no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me." But really, it's up to the Lord as to what He wants to do with us. My choice would be to stay out of view, but I wouldn't have much influence that way, and it would probably be like burying the talents or hiding the lamp under a bushel.
All I can say is, we've got to stay humble and not get a big head when He does something through us. It's His power and ability, not ours.
Jesus statement on the cross says it all to me, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." It's not until we can love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength-- and trust Him enough to let go--that we can ever get over our self.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 20, 2010
How great is the faithfulness of our God! When I read this verse, "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass." Joshua 21:45, my spirit sighs a sigh of contentment. I am proud to have a God like that. He promises wonderful things to His children, and He keeps His promises without fail. I want to be like that.
Our God is also faithful to stand up for us and defend us when He has authorized us to do something. No matter what anyone says, if you're obeying the Word of the Lord, stand your ground. Jesus always had the ultimate answer for any of His detractors, the statement that made His enemies close their mouths. I want to be like that.
Ethan the Ezrahite, the writer of Psalm 89, extolled the Lord and His faithfulness in this beautiful song. I want to be like that too.
God is faithful! As I meditate on His intrinsic faithfulness, thanking and worshipping Him, His nature and His character will be imparted to me. As I practice walking in godly faithfulness (something I have far to go on), He will strengthen and uphold me.
As we grow in faithful obedience to God's Word, we grow in authority. As we demonstrate His characteristic faithfulness, people will be drawn to the Lord, because it is a very winsome quality indeed!
Our God is also faithful to stand up for us and defend us when He has authorized us to do something. No matter what anyone says, if you're obeying the Word of the Lord, stand your ground. Jesus always had the ultimate answer for any of His detractors, the statement that made His enemies close their mouths. I want to be like that.
Ethan the Ezrahite, the writer of Psalm 89, extolled the Lord and His faithfulness in this beautiful song. I want to be like that too.
God is faithful! As I meditate on His intrinsic faithfulness, thanking and worshipping Him, His nature and His character will be imparted to me. As I practice walking in godly faithfulness (something I have far to go on), He will strengthen and uphold me.
As we grow in faithful obedience to God's Word, we grow in authority. As we demonstrate His characteristic faithfulness, people will be drawn to the Lord, because it is a very winsome quality indeed!
Friday, April 16, 2010
April 16, 2010
I woke up today feeling kind of old, wondering how I was going to ever be able to do all the things the Lord had put before me to do. I was wishing I had done them when I was young, thinner and much more energetic. I'm so glad I read the Scriptures today, for they really spoke to me about all this.
Even though I heard my call when I was 14, in an unmistakeable way (not an audible voice, but one that couldn't be missed), I wasn't in the place to walk it out. In fact, I outright rejected it, more intent on my own way of doing things than worrying about what God wanted. The next seven years was pitiful indeed! Since then, every seven years has brought a new fresh call, a renewal of the very first call, with an increase. God has never given up on His vision for my life. He has never given up on His vision for yours, either.
I was so impressed with Caleb, who went to Joshua and asked for the inheritance that the Lord had promised him. "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.” 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Joshua 14: 6b-13
At first, I was reading that thinking, "That sure doesn't fit me!" But the Lord showed me otherwise, for two reasons. One, I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me-- it's Christ's righteousness and work in me, not my own, that makes me worthy and gives me the ability to carry out God's will. Only faith and obedience is necessary. That is all. I haven't always been so great on the obedience part, and that's the only reason I am still struggling to take my inheritance. But I see now that the faith part has always been there, although many times as good as dead from lack of corresponding action. But I am still believeing. In my spirit, I am more vigorous than ever, and because I know my God more than I did when I was 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 50, and 57 (everything gets refreshed at the 50th year, the Jubilee), I think I am able to say: Now, then, give me this mountain!
We saw Jesus teaching that men ought to pray and not give up. Yet, He wanted to know if, when He showed up, would He find enough faith so that we could receive the answer to our prayer.
Jesus has shown up over and over again to answer my prayers, and yet, I was still not ready enough to keep exercising my faith in His promises to stand firm when the giants came to try and steal it. I am determined to see it though this time, with His help. He's not going to do my life for me, or without me. But when I take my Sword up and my shield of faith, He's going to be right there strengthening me, and fighting for me. I think I even have enough faith in His creative power to get back my youthful vigor!
What about you? What's He promised you? What's your inheritance in Him? Are you just going to stand there and wait another 7 years? I don't think so! It's time to act out our faith and say: NOW, THEN, GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!
Even though I heard my call when I was 14, in an unmistakeable way (not an audible voice, but one that couldn't be missed), I wasn't in the place to walk it out. In fact, I outright rejected it, more intent on my own way of doing things than worrying about what God wanted. The next seven years was pitiful indeed! Since then, every seven years has brought a new fresh call, a renewal of the very first call, with an increase. God has never given up on His vision for my life. He has never given up on His vision for yours, either.
I was so impressed with Caleb, who went to Joshua and asked for the inheritance that the Lord had promised him. "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.” 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Joshua 14: 6b-13
At first, I was reading that thinking, "That sure doesn't fit me!" But the Lord showed me otherwise, for two reasons. One, I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me-- it's Christ's righteousness and work in me, not my own, that makes me worthy and gives me the ability to carry out God's will. Only faith and obedience is necessary. That is all. I haven't always been so great on the obedience part, and that's the only reason I am still struggling to take my inheritance. But I see now that the faith part has always been there, although many times as good as dead from lack of corresponding action. But I am still believeing. In my spirit, I am more vigorous than ever, and because I know my God more than I did when I was 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 50, and 57 (everything gets refreshed at the 50th year, the Jubilee), I think I am able to say: Now, then, give me this mountain!
We saw Jesus teaching that men ought to pray and not give up. Yet, He wanted to know if, when He showed up, would He find enough faith so that we could receive the answer to our prayer.
Jesus has shown up over and over again to answer my prayers, and yet, I was still not ready enough to keep exercising my faith in His promises to stand firm when the giants came to try and steal it. I am determined to see it though this time, with His help. He's not going to do my life for me, or without me. But when I take my Sword up and my shield of faith, He's going to be right there strengthening me, and fighting for me. I think I even have enough faith in His creative power to get back my youthful vigor!
What about you? What's He promised you? What's your inheritance in Him? Are you just going to stand there and wait another 7 years? I don't think so! It's time to act out our faith and say: NOW, THEN, GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April 11, 2010
I think it would be wonderful to make a "scrapbook" or "memory book" of the things God has done in our life. Don't you? We take photos of our kids growing up, and the major events in our life, like weddings and birthdays, and we document our vacations and our mission trips. We collect memorabilia from our various activities and event we want to remember. Then we look at them occasionally, and these scrapbooks bring back the memories or our best times, strengthening them every time we do. We talk to our kids about our life before they were born: "Look, there's mommy and daddy with really funny hairdo's and clothes!" or the funny things they did when they were little: "There you are at one year old, with a pie pan on your head!" It's easy to laugh and share with our kids with something to look at that's organized and picturesque.
God did similar things with Israel it seems, only they didn't have iphones! When Joshua led them across the flooded Jordan, heaping up the water, the Lord instructed them to take twelve stones out from the Jordan and pile them up in the Promised Land as a memorial for what He had done for them. "Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” Joshua 4: 21-24
If we are to accomplish the things that God gives us to do, it is imperative that we bring to remembrance the times that He has worked in our life, the times He has empowered us and brought us through. Otherwise we tend to lose faith in the midst of difficulty. This has been one of my largest shortcomings throughout my Christian walk. I'm a great starter, but carrying through is not so easy, and finishing something has always loomed before me like an impossible task.
I very much related to this Scripture verse today: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Luke 14: 28-30 The thing is, when I start something by the inspiration of the Spirit and the word of the Lord, I know the Lord can do it through me, because I know His power and ability. But do I really count the cost?
Jesus knew the kinds of trials, struggles, temptations and oppositions we would face as we walked through life as His disciples. He gave us the perfect antedote to failure: "pick up your cross and follow me," and "whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." The cost of fulfilling God's will and following Christ to the end, the finish line, is EVERYTHING. You just don't quit! And you let nothing stop you from obeying Him, not even yourself.
A scrapbook of remembrance, in lieu of stone monuments, might help us remember not only God's faithfulness to us and to our ancestors; but it might also remind us of the times we chose, yet again, to commitment ourselves to faithful discipleship. We need reminders that we were once willing to pick up our cross and give up everything, so that we will continue in that choice when we feel ready to quit.
I like how so many of the verses tied together today, and I like how Proverbs sums up the concept of follow-through:
The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession. In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12: 27-28
There is only one righteous path, and that is Jesus Christ. If we stop following Him, we fail, but if we continue to follow Him, enduring until the end, we succeed, because there is no death or failure in Him.
God did similar things with Israel it seems, only they didn't have iphones! When Joshua led them across the flooded Jordan, heaping up the water, the Lord instructed them to take twelve stones out from the Jordan and pile them up in the Promised Land as a memorial for what He had done for them. "Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” Joshua 4: 21-24
If we are to accomplish the things that God gives us to do, it is imperative that we bring to remembrance the times that He has worked in our life, the times He has empowered us and brought us through. Otherwise we tend to lose faith in the midst of difficulty. This has been one of my largest shortcomings throughout my Christian walk. I'm a great starter, but carrying through is not so easy, and finishing something has always loomed before me like an impossible task.
I very much related to this Scripture verse today: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Luke 14: 28-30 The thing is, when I start something by the inspiration of the Spirit and the word of the Lord, I know the Lord can do it through me, because I know His power and ability. But do I really count the cost?
Jesus knew the kinds of trials, struggles, temptations and oppositions we would face as we walked through life as His disciples. He gave us the perfect antedote to failure: "pick up your cross and follow me," and "whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." The cost of fulfilling God's will and following Christ to the end, the finish line, is EVERYTHING. You just don't quit! And you let nothing stop you from obeying Him, not even yourself.
A scrapbook of remembrance, in lieu of stone monuments, might help us remember not only God's faithfulness to us and to our ancestors; but it might also remind us of the times we chose, yet again, to commitment ourselves to faithful discipleship. We need reminders that we were once willing to pick up our cross and give up everything, so that we will continue in that choice when we feel ready to quit.
I like how so many of the verses tied together today, and I like how Proverbs sums up the concept of follow-through:
The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession. In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12: 27-28
There is only one righteous path, and that is Jesus Christ. If we stop following Him, we fail, but if we continue to follow Him, enduring until the end, we succeed, because there is no death or failure in Him.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
March 2, 2010
I love Psalm 45 and it's beautiful description of our glorious King-- and of the Bride! Don't you? It has advice to her on how to please Him as well. As I meditate on this, my love for Him is increased, as is my desire to be seated with Him to rule and reign.
It seems that James and John, the sons of Zebedee, had a glimpse into this calling, but perhaps their desire was not pure-- worldly ambition tingeing the dream. Isn't this true of all of us to one extent or another? If we want to "qualify," then, we'll follow Jesus' clear instructions. He led the way Himself, for He "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 It is not the way we picture a King preparing to take his throne, is it?
Jesus is the Way, and as we walk in Him, we will have our motives purified in the baptism of fire, we will drink a cup of suffering with Him as we follow Him in service, and we will be changed into His image and likeness as we submit to His leading, until we are humble and habitually lay down our lives as He did. He will make us ready to sit with Him if we are willing to walk with Him, stand up for Him, and bow down to Him.
It seems that James and John, the sons of Zebedee, had a glimpse into this calling, but perhaps their desire was not pure-- worldly ambition tingeing the dream. Isn't this true of all of us to one extent or another? If we want to "qualify," then, we'll follow Jesus' clear instructions. He led the way Himself, for He "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 It is not the way we picture a King preparing to take his throne, is it?
Jesus is the Way, and as we walk in Him, we will have our motives purified in the baptism of fire, we will drink a cup of suffering with Him as we follow Him in service, and we will be changed into His image and likeness as we submit to His leading, until we are humble and habitually lay down our lives as He did. He will make us ready to sit with Him if we are willing to walk with Him, stand up for Him, and bow down to Him.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
January 19, 2010
Joseph's Tips for having FAVOR:
1. Make sure God is with you. Genesis 39:2-5
2. Have godly character (e.g. trustworthy, faithful, pure). 39:7-9
3. Don't lose your character under duress 39:19-23
4. Pay attention to people and be a loving servant. 40:6-7
5. Know your gifts and glorify God with them. 40:8
6. Do whatever you do very well. 40:22
7. Remember-- your favor comes from God, not people. 40:23
8. Don't forget good grooming! 41:14
9. Be confident that your gift will always function when you give God the credit and not yourself. 41:16
Jesus' Tips for having Favor (HE IS your FAVOR):
1. Do the Father's will. Matthew 12:50
2. Learn to speak the language of the Kingdom. 13:3
3. Learn to see, hear, and understand the language of the Kingdom 13:16
4. Be good soil for the Word and bear fruit. 13:23
David's Tips for having Favor: Psalm 17:1-15
1. Pray for favor.
2. Speak the truth.
3. Stick to the Way.
4. Trust the Lord.
Solomon's Tips for having Favor: Proverbs 3:34
1. Don't look down on people.
2. Be humble.
Bonus:
"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given." Matthew 13:11 Seek the Lord for wisdom, discernment and the gift of interpretation (e.g. dreams). They were keys for Joseph's favor, and they will be much needed in the days to come.
1. Make sure God is with you. Genesis 39:2-5
2. Have godly character (e.g. trustworthy, faithful, pure). 39:7-9
3. Don't lose your character under duress 39:19-23
4. Pay attention to people and be a loving servant. 40:6-7
5. Know your gifts and glorify God with them. 40:8
6. Do whatever you do very well. 40:22
7. Remember-- your favor comes from God, not people. 40:23
8. Don't forget good grooming! 41:14
9. Be confident that your gift will always function when you give God the credit and not yourself. 41:16
Jesus' Tips for having Favor (HE IS your FAVOR):
1. Do the Father's will. Matthew 12:50
2. Learn to speak the language of the Kingdom. 13:3
3. Learn to see, hear, and understand the language of the Kingdom 13:16
4. Be good soil for the Word and bear fruit. 13:23
David's Tips for having Favor: Psalm 17:1-15
1. Pray for favor.
2. Speak the truth.
3. Stick to the Way.
4. Trust the Lord.
Solomon's Tips for having Favor: Proverbs 3:34
1. Don't look down on people.
2. Be humble.
Bonus:
"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given." Matthew 13:11 Seek the Lord for wisdom, discernment and the gift of interpretation (e.g. dreams). They were keys for Joseph's favor, and they will be much needed in the days to come.
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