August 4, 2010 As Long As She Lay Desolate

Sometimes I forget to do the most obvious thing: look into the Word and see what God is revealing about Himself.  Isn't that what it's all about?  There are a few things I noticed about Him in the Chronicles passage today.  1) He's compassionate, 2) He keeps His Word, and 3) He's in control.  I don't really need to go into all that, as these things are shown clearly in what we read.  We know these are supposed to be traits of God, but do we recognize them for what they are when He's revealing Himself to us in our daily life?

Usually, it's in hind sight that I can recognize that God's hand was clearly visible in all that was going on in my life.  Whenever I've been in a tough place that seems dark and threatening, it's not always been obvious that God was with me.  But He always has been.  It's good to remember hard times in which have we gained understanding about His ways, and how He used all things for our good.  If we can't remember anything helpful in our own life, it's wise to talk to someone who can, and who can help us see.  Reading the Word can also illuminate what the Lord is doing with us in the midst of darkness and distress.

One verse stood out to me and ministered to me strongly about my own life: "As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years."  I know this is speaking of the land of Israel, but I take it to heart, as my body and my life are my own land.  It reminded me of what the Lord had said to me a little while ago, that I was in a "fallow year" (this had to do with writing music in particular).  If you'll remember, the tilled land was to lay unused for a season every seventh year, to give it and the laborers a rest.  (Exodus 23: 10-12).  The people were also to keep the Sabbath day of rest every week.  These are principles that go beyond Old Testament law.  If we don't rest and keep our focus on the Lord, bad things happen.  On the other hand, there are many other Scriptures that exhort us to stop vacationing and "break up your fallow ground." 

The Lord knows us and what we need, and if we follow the leading of the Spirit, we'll stay in step with Him and keep the Sabbaths we might need to take (some might think of them as fasts). If we don't, it seems that God has a way of intervening and making sure that we get the needed rest.  Sometimes it's our bodies that intervene, by simply breaking down because of the stress we've put them under.  I suppose when this happens it's because we weren't listening.  In the down times, we can feel that everything that meant something to us is stripped away.  While we are desolate though, we often seek the Lord as we should have been seeking Him all along-- with more depth and passion.

I'm always inspired by the Psalms, especially David's, as his response to difficulty was always to seek the Lord.  His greatest desire was always to be close to the Lord, but I think it was in the times of dire distress that his focus was clarified:
     
"One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock."
Psalm 27:4-5 NKJV
 
Maybe our weekly Sabbath rest, our break from our workaday life when we put our focus on the Lord, is our practice run.  It's when we have to face a layoff, an illness, a death in the family or other major loss, or a period of fierce opposition that we really put into practice what we have learned: that God is our refuge-- that He's compassionate, that He always keeps His word, and that although He did not cause our catastrophe, He's still and will always be, in control.
 
To study on your own:
What other traits of God did you see in the OT passages? 
What did Corinthians reading reveal to you about God? 
Can you think of examples of how He's revealed these characteristics to you in your own life? 
What is He doing with you right now?

March 18, 2010

True authority is given by God.  It comes by His word.  We saw three examples today: Joshua, John the Baptist, and Jesus.  God told Moses to give Joshua some of his authority to lead the people.  John the Baptist was sent out by the word of God that came to him. Luke 3:2  Jesus was released into His ministry by the Spirit of God and the voice of the Father. 3:22  Each of these were also empowered by the Spirit of God.

Who operated in God's authority: John, who rebuked Herod the tetrarch for his wickedness, or Herod, who imprisoned John (and eventually had him beheaded)?  What happens to people who usurp authority not given to them by God, or abuse the power of their position of authority? Are you able to discern when a leader is not submitted to God's authority?  How do you respond to that situation?

All of us, including you, are given authority over some areas in life.  What has God given you authority over?  How do you know?  What do you do with the authority that God has given you?  Have you ever tried to take authority over something/someone that was not given to you?  How did that turn out?

One way we can recognize our authority is by the fact that we have to make decisions.  In what areas of life do you have to make decisions?  We get into trouble when we start trying to make decisions in areas that are not under our authority. 

Do you have trouble making decisions?  God told Moses that Joshua would need to go to the priest, who would inquire for him "by the decision of the Urim before the Lord." Numbers 27:21  I have to admit that I haven't done research on the Urim and the Thummim of the Old Testament priesthood, even though it's always intrigued me.  I have this picture of some stones lighting up with God's "yes" or His "no"!  (I'd be happy to have a comment with any knowledge you might have on this.)  Back then, they cast lots to make decisions, such as apportioning the land for the tribes' inheritances, trusting God to make the decisions.  We don't have to cast lots now, because we have the Holy Spirit and we can hear the Lord's voice speaking directly to our hearts.  Isn't that awesome? 

"Peace" and "anxiety" are kind of like the Urim and Thummim to me.  I go to the Lord with a decision and seek to hear His word on it.  If I'm worrying over something, I wait for the peace of God about it before I do anything.  Decisions based on fear don't turn out very well!  I try to keep myself free from anxiety (e.g., anxiety stemming from consuming too much caffeine).  Maintaining a peaceful spirit and quiet mind makes it easy for the Holy Spirit to use a "feeling" of anxiety as a quick warning system, to stop me from making a wrong decision, or to protect me from danger.  I try to respond immediately to that.  He can always explain later!   I haven't mastered all this, but I've gotten a lot better at it with practice.  [I have found that external "peace enhancers" interfere with my ability to be led by the Spirit.  This doesn't mean that if you need to take prescribed tranquilizers that you should suddenly quit taking them; but it is a goal to work toward, maybe with the help of a therapist.]

The Good News is that when you're born of God, you're the brother or sister of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Almighty God is your Father!  When was the last time you sat quietly with the Lord and heard Him say to your heart, "You are my Beloved son/daughter; with you I am well pleased."  Shhhh. . .listen carefully.  You'll hear Him, I know you will.

January 25, 2010

There are a lot of voices in the world, and we have to discern which ones we're hearing, and choose our responses accordingly. The people were saying all sorts of different things about who Jesus was, but the only right answer was revealed by the Father-- Jesus is the Christ, God's Son.

Peter got that revelation, but then he heard and responded to the wrong voice (Satan's) when he rebuked Jesus.

Every revelation from God is not as overwhelming as what Peter then got on the mountain and heard God say "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to Him!' Matthew 17:5. It's still the same powerful revelation though, so hold on to it. The next time an opposing voice comes along, use this Word and shoot down the lies.

And listen to Jesus, no matter how He's speaking!