I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. Psalm 119:176
We are errant creatures. We constantly wander off, doing our own thing, getting ourselves into trouble. There's simply too much space for us to get lost and confused and turned around in. And, frankly, our sense of spiritual direction stinks...all of us. No one of us is exempt. Fortunately, we don't have to find our own way back to where we belong--God will come get us! No matter how far off-course you've gotten (and it may be nearer or farther than you realize), you are never out of His earshot; He knows where you've gotten to and how to get you back. You can't get too far out into the cold and dark for Him to find you; no pit of fear, guilt, anger, bitterness, confusion, or despair is too deep for His arm to reach you. He loves us. He longs for us. And He will come for us...anytime...everytime.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Reciprocation
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:9
John was, no doubt, at the lowest point in his life. He's an old man now--probably pushing 90. He's spent his life preaching Christ, and now, at the end, he's banished to a prison island. It's safe to assume that this feeble old man was sleeping on the ground in a cave with minimal clothing, bedding and food provisions. Simply put, life stunk. And yet, here in the lowest time, Jesus showed up. You see, many years before John stood with Him at the lowest point in His life. When even the Father turned His back on the Son, John was standing by; as far as I can tell, the only one of the twelve who was actually there at the cross. Jesus remembered that...and He returned the favor. God won't forget you. He won't abandon you. And if you stand with Him at Calvary, He will be there with you on Patmos.
John was, no doubt, at the lowest point in his life. He's an old man now--probably pushing 90. He's spent his life preaching Christ, and now, at the end, he's banished to a prison island. It's safe to assume that this feeble old man was sleeping on the ground in a cave with minimal clothing, bedding and food provisions. Simply put, life stunk. And yet, here in the lowest time, Jesus showed up. You see, many years before John stood with Him at the lowest point in His life. When even the Father turned His back on the Son, John was standing by; as far as I can tell, the only one of the twelve who was actually there at the cross. Jesus remembered that...and He returned the favor. God won't forget you. He won't abandon you. And if you stand with Him at Calvary, He will be there with you on Patmos.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Get Back Up!
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: Proverbs 24:16
Have you noticed that you don't usually get things right the first time? Oh, sometimes you have beginner's luck, but usually anything worth doing you have to try again to get it right. And again. I wonder how often we miss out on something because we gave up too soon? Remember, you only get one chance at life; don't be one of the many people who look back later in it and say, "You know, I wish I hadn't quit on that so soon." It happens so often with so many things. Just about everything in life gets hard at some point, and it's easy to just give up on it and move on to something else. Don't be a quitter! Stick it out, give it a chance, see what's on the other side of this hill. You haven't failed at something until you've quit on it. So, you've hit a rough patch, maybe even tripped up; that's ok--it happens. The question is, are you gonna GET up...or are you gonna GIVE up?
Have you noticed that you don't usually get things right the first time? Oh, sometimes you have beginner's luck, but usually anything worth doing you have to try again to get it right. And again. I wonder how often we miss out on something because we gave up too soon? Remember, you only get one chance at life; don't be one of the many people who look back later in it and say, "You know, I wish I hadn't quit on that so soon." It happens so often with so many things. Just about everything in life gets hard at some point, and it's easy to just give up on it and move on to something else. Don't be a quitter! Stick it out, give it a chance, see what's on the other side of this hill. You haven't failed at something until you've quit on it. So, you've hit a rough patch, maybe even tripped up; that's ok--it happens. The question is, are you gonna GET up...or are you gonna GIVE up?
The Advocate
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1
I'm so glad that I don't have to stand before God on my own. How hopeless that would be! There would be no words I could say, no argument or plea I could offer for my own cause. But we are not alone in our case before God--we have an advocate who is capable, qualified and authorized to stand with us. Jesus, the Judge's own Son, is...and will be...there when my sins, many as they be, are presented to quietly say, "Yes. But that's taken care of." He can then enter into evidence for me (and you) His own scarred hands, His own pierced feet, His own wounded side, His own defaced brow, His own righteous blood. Oh, yes, we sin. We are horribly faulty creatures. But, ultimately, we are not on our own. I'm so grateful for my advocate--He'll never lose a case!
I'm so glad that I don't have to stand before God on my own. How hopeless that would be! There would be no words I could say, no argument or plea I could offer for my own cause. But we are not alone in our case before God--we have an advocate who is capable, qualified and authorized to stand with us. Jesus, the Judge's own Son, is...and will be...there when my sins, many as they be, are presented to quietly say, "Yes. But that's taken care of." He can then enter into evidence for me (and you) His own scarred hands, His own pierced feet, His own wounded side, His own defaced brow, His own righteous blood. Oh, yes, we sin. We are horribly faulty creatures. But, ultimately, we are not on our own. I'm so grateful for my advocate--He'll never lose a case!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hold Your Breath
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:3
Trials are not fun. Being put through the fire doesn't feel good--it burns. But we have this promise: there's a purpose, and it's for our own long-term good. See, trials teach us something; train us. You know how swimmers and divers learn to hold their breath for long periods of time? By holding their breath as long as they think they can...then holding it a little bit longer. As you do this over and over, you train yourself to be able to hold your breath longer. The only way for us to learn faith is to put our faith to the test. The only way to develop patience is to have our patience tried. It's not fun, oh, no. But it is necessary. Remember, that trial is making you able to deal better with the next one. Without this one, you may not make it through next time. I won't tell you to enjoy it, because that's not realistic; I'll just tell you to stick it out, make the best of it, and learn all you can.
Trials are not fun. Being put through the fire doesn't feel good--it burns. But we have this promise: there's a purpose, and it's for our own long-term good. See, trials teach us something; train us. You know how swimmers and divers learn to hold their breath for long periods of time? By holding their breath as long as they think they can...then holding it a little bit longer. As you do this over and over, you train yourself to be able to hold your breath longer. The only way for us to learn faith is to put our faith to the test. The only way to develop patience is to have our patience tried. It's not fun, oh, no. But it is necessary. Remember, that trial is making you able to deal better with the next one. Without this one, you may not make it through next time. I won't tell you to enjoy it, because that's not realistic; I'll just tell you to stick it out, make the best of it, and learn all you can.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Surprising Hall of Faithers
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Hebrews 11:32
Check out this grouping of men. Of course, you've got David and Samuel rounding it out--men who's great faith and accomplishments inspired countless children to be named after them for millenia. But first we have Gideon, also well known and liked, but when it comes right down to it, a man of weak faith...a borderline coward, truth be told. There's Barak, a man who was never himself a number one man, but instead was the two-man...to a woman leader in a male-dominated society. Then Samson, a man who never could control his desires and was ultimately destroyed by his lust and his pride. And Jephthah, the son of a prostitute, illegitamate, despised by his own, a nothing in his world. What an assortment of misfits to be listed in the "Hall of Faith"! Yet, here they are. We should keep in mind that God's vision goes a little further than ours, His standard of success is not always what we would think. Don't try to judge the efficacy of one's faith or the quality of their Christianity based on what you can see. You can try to justify it by dubbing it "fruit inspecting" or whatever you please, but the simple fact of the matter is, we don't usually know. We must be very, very cautious...because that person we consider an average or sub-par Christian just might end up in God's hall of fame when all is said and done.
Check out this grouping of men. Of course, you've got David and Samuel rounding it out--men who's great faith and accomplishments inspired countless children to be named after them for millenia. But first we have Gideon, also well known and liked, but when it comes right down to it, a man of weak faith...a borderline coward, truth be told. There's Barak, a man who was never himself a number one man, but instead was the two-man...to a woman leader in a male-dominated society. Then Samson, a man who never could control his desires and was ultimately destroyed by his lust and his pride. And Jephthah, the son of a prostitute, illegitamate, despised by his own, a nothing in his world. What an assortment of misfits to be listed in the "Hall of Faith"! Yet, here they are. We should keep in mind that God's vision goes a little further than ours, His standard of success is not always what we would think. Don't try to judge the efficacy of one's faith or the quality of their Christianity based on what you can see. You can try to justify it by dubbing it "fruit inspecting" or whatever you please, but the simple fact of the matter is, we don't usually know. We must be very, very cautious...because that person we consider an average or sub-par Christian just might end up in God's hall of fame when all is said and done.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Pour It Out
...pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8b
Are you venting to God? I think sometimes we feel like that would be disrespectful or a waste of His time or make Him angry. Quite the contrary--God WANTS to hear you pouring out your heart. He wants us to cast our cares before Him. He wants us to come to Him and...talk. Tell Him how we're broken hearted or angry or frustrated or tired or happy or sad or confused or whatever. God wants to hear it! No matter what you are going through...God wants to hear it. Talk to Him about it!
Are you venting to God? I think sometimes we feel like that would be disrespectful or a waste of His time or make Him angry. Quite the contrary--God WANTS to hear you pouring out your heart. He wants us to cast our cares before Him. He wants us to come to Him and...talk. Tell Him how we're broken hearted or angry or frustrated or tired or happy or sad or confused or whatever. God wants to hear it! No matter what you are going through...God wants to hear it. Talk to Him about it!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
All The Time...Trust!
Trust in him at all times; Psalm 62:8a
Bad things happen. Good things happen. Sometimes it's easy to say God is in control and we're trusting Him...sometimes not so much. The truth is, it's never easy to trust God. When things are good, we feel like we don't need Him. When they're bad, well, we just don't want to give Him the reigns...after all, didn't He allow this mess to happen in the first place? But, really, it doesn't matter whether it's easy to trust God or whether or not we feel like it. Most things that are good for us we don't feel like doing and aren't easy, right? We don't want to exercise or eat right or go to work or do homework or wash dishes...but we do them anyway (most of the time) because it's better for us if we do. Well, trust God--it's good for you! Good times, bad times, easy or hard, when you know what's going on and when you have no clue...just trust Him.
Bad things happen. Good things happen. Sometimes it's easy to say God is in control and we're trusting Him...sometimes not so much. The truth is, it's never easy to trust God. When things are good, we feel like we don't need Him. When they're bad, well, we just don't want to give Him the reigns...after all, didn't He allow this mess to happen in the first place? But, really, it doesn't matter whether it's easy to trust God or whether or not we feel like it. Most things that are good for us we don't feel like doing and aren't easy, right? We don't want to exercise or eat right or go to work or do homework or wash dishes...but we do them anyway (most of the time) because it's better for us if we do. Well, trust God--it's good for you! Good times, bad times, easy or hard, when you know what's going on and when you have no clue...just trust Him.
Someone's Thinking About You
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Psalm 40:17
Have you considered the fact that God considers you? God thinks about us! I also find it interesting that "adonai" is used here instead of "yaweh". God is described, not as the almighty, all-powerful Creator and Ruler of the world, but as a personal master or overseer--the One who sees us, watches us, knows our plight intimately...and cares. He isn't merely the great God of all (although He is that.) He's also my Lord, who is in charge and control of my situation. Don't ever feel like you don't matter. Don't ever let anyone (yourself included) convince you that your problem doesn't matter to God. Don't ever think that God doesn't care about you. He does care...and He's thinking about you right now!
Have you considered the fact that God considers you? God thinks about us! I also find it interesting that "adonai" is used here instead of "yaweh". God is described, not as the almighty, all-powerful Creator and Ruler of the world, but as a personal master or overseer--the One who sees us, watches us, knows our plight intimately...and cares. He isn't merely the great God of all (although He is that.) He's also my Lord, who is in charge and control of my situation. Don't ever feel like you don't matter. Don't ever let anyone (yourself included) convince you that your problem doesn't matter to God. Don't ever think that God doesn't care about you. He does care...and He's thinking about you right now!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Faith First
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Psalm 33:21
God has prerequisites to His blessings. It's not what you wear. It's not the way you fix your hair. It's not where you go or what you do or say. God requires faith. That simple. God wants to bless you and help you, to work on your behalf; but He demands that you trust Him first. You can be fulfilled and happy in your life. But if you would rejoice, you must first train yourself to trust.
God has prerequisites to His blessings. It's not what you wear. It's not the way you fix your hair. It's not where you go or what you do or say. God requires faith. That simple. God wants to bless you and help you, to work on your behalf; but He demands that you trust Him first. You can be fulfilled and happy in your life. But if you would rejoice, you must first train yourself to trust.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Get Away
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
Ever feel like you just need to get away? Wish you could just hide from all the stuff that comes with life? I certainly do. Sometimes I want to be able to get away from all of it--physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually away. Well, we can do just that. Did you know God has designed a secret place...a place where it's just you and Him? There's a place where you can go anytime to get away from anything. Children usually feel safe no matter what as long as they can be close to a parent. Our special secret place is even better--it's right up against our Almighty Heavenly Father. Right in His very shadow. We can be safe there. We can be comfortable there. We can be quiet there. We can be...away.
Ever feel like you just need to get away? Wish you could just hide from all the stuff that comes with life? I certainly do. Sometimes I want to be able to get away from all of it--physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually away. Well, we can do just that. Did you know God has designed a secret place...a place where it's just you and Him? There's a place where you can go anytime to get away from anything. Children usually feel safe no matter what as long as they can be close to a parent. Our special secret place is even better--it's right up against our Almighty Heavenly Father. Right in His very shadow. We can be safe there. We can be comfortable there. We can be quiet there. We can be...away.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Transformed
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
A transformation took place on the cross. As He hung there and bleed, Christ became sin...and sin died. As the blood flowed from His wounds and ran down His body, it covered our sin. When His body was removed from that cross and placed in the grave, our sin was buried. When we are saved, another transformation takes place. When Christ saves us, we become God's righteousness. The Spirit indwells, possesses, and melds to our own spirit, making us one with Himself. Now when God looks down at us, He sees, not our sin, not our failure or shortcoming, not our humanness; but His own righteousness, His own holiness, His own goodness. Praise God for a substitutive redemption and a transformative salvation!
A transformation took place on the cross. As He hung there and bleed, Christ became sin...and sin died. As the blood flowed from His wounds and ran down His body, it covered our sin. When His body was removed from that cross and placed in the grave, our sin was buried. When we are saved, another transformation takes place. When Christ saves us, we become God's righteousness. The Spirit indwells, possesses, and melds to our own spirit, making us one with Himself. Now when God looks down at us, He sees, not our sin, not our failure or shortcoming, not our humanness; but His own righteousness, His own holiness, His own goodness. Praise God for a substitutive redemption and a transformative salvation!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
To Be Spent
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 2 Corinthians 12:15
Is this our attitude toward one another? Are we willing to give--both of our possessions and of our persons--to one another? I'm afraid that more often we're more concerned with "fairness" than with love. The two are not intertwinable. Love is neither compatable with nor concerned with a sense of what is "fair" or "unfair". Paul wrote to a people who seemed to love him less and less, yet he was willing to give anything for their benefit. Are we, likewise, willing to truly sacrifice, to be spent for, one another?
Is this our attitude toward one another? Are we willing to give--both of our possessions and of our persons--to one another? I'm afraid that more often we're more concerned with "fairness" than with love. The two are not intertwinable. Love is neither compatable with nor concerned with a sense of what is "fair" or "unfair". Paul wrote to a people who seemed to love him less and less, yet he was willing to give anything for their benefit. Are we, likewise, willing to truly sacrifice, to be spent for, one another?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Provocative Christianity
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Hebrews 10:24
I love the word "provoke" in this verse. It's akin to the words "antagonize" and "instigate." We're to provoke each other...considerately! I love the irony in that. But it's a good, strong, descriptive verb telling us how we're to be. We're not just supposed to be saying, "Hey, you should love each other and do right." We're to be pushing and prodding each other. We ought to be making it practically impossible for each other NOT to love and do good! Combine this verse with the next, and you've got a whole different picture of the church than we might be used to. We're supposed to gather with other believers, sure. But worship is not mentioned! The picture of the local church here is more of a pep rally for Christians. Look at the verbs: consider, provoke, exhort. I wonder if we're doing this to any extent in our Christian lives. Sadly, I think we've lost this, and as a result, lost our love and goodness. Be a provocative Christian!
I love the word "provoke" in this verse. It's akin to the words "antagonize" and "instigate." We're to provoke each other...considerately! I love the irony in that. But it's a good, strong, descriptive verb telling us how we're to be. We're not just supposed to be saying, "Hey, you should love each other and do right." We're to be pushing and prodding each other. We ought to be making it practically impossible for each other NOT to love and do good! Combine this verse with the next, and you've got a whole different picture of the church than we might be used to. We're supposed to gather with other believers, sure. But worship is not mentioned! The picture of the local church here is more of a pep rally for Christians. Look at the verbs: consider, provoke, exhort. I wonder if we're doing this to any extent in our Christian lives. Sadly, I think we've lost this, and as a result, lost our love and goodness. Be a provocative Christian!
God's Mapquest
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
This is a progression. God will not direct your paths until you are acknowledging Him. You cannot acknowledge Him until you stop leaning on your own understanding. And you will not stop leaning on your own understanding until you learn to trust in Him with all your heart. So you need some direction in your life? You have to start at the beginning, with the basics. Start trusting God. When you come across a promise, claim it and believe it. After you start doing that you'll find it a little easier to stop relying on your own "wisdom" all the time and start leaning more on His. Then you'll be able to start saying, "Ok, God, I don't know what to do here...help!" And at that point, He'll step in, take you by the shoulders, turn you around, point, and say, "That way."
This is a progression. God will not direct your paths until you are acknowledging Him. You cannot acknowledge Him until you stop leaning on your own understanding. And you will not stop leaning on your own understanding until you learn to trust in Him with all your heart. So you need some direction in your life? You have to start at the beginning, with the basics. Start trusting God. When you come across a promise, claim it and believe it. After you start doing that you'll find it a little easier to stop relying on your own "wisdom" all the time and start leaning more on His. Then you'll be able to start saying, "Ok, God, I don't know what to do here...help!" And at that point, He'll step in, take you by the shoulders, turn you around, point, and say, "That way."
Monday, January 4, 2010
God During
The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. Psalm 118:14
Note the progression here. God is, first, strength and song...then He becomes salvation. God has to be our help and hope while we're in a problem before He can ever be our salvation from it. If you want to be saved from something, you have to first learn to lean on His strength and hold to His hope within the trial. God isn't just God sometimes--He's God all the time. He was God before your suffering, He'll be God after your suffering...and you must learn to rely on Him as God during your suffering.
Note the progression here. God is, first, strength and song...then He becomes salvation. God has to be our help and hope while we're in a problem before He can ever be our salvation from it. If you want to be saved from something, you have to first learn to lean on His strength and hold to His hope within the trial. God isn't just God sometimes--He's God all the time. He was God before your suffering, He'll be God after your suffering...and you must learn to rely on Him as God during your suffering.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Live Without Limits
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power.... Colossians 1:11a
In my Bible I have written beside this verse: Live w/o Limits. At the end of a year we traditionally look back and consider all the things we fell short on in the past year and create "resolutions" or goals to remedy these things. But do you ever find yourself, even as you're setting these goals, thinking, "There's no way I'm gonna actually do this"? Sometimes--many times--we're defeated in an endeavor before we even set out upon it. There is no need for us to live like this! We are held back only by the limitations we place on ourselves. As children of the Most High God, we have not only our own strength, (for that is frail indeed) but the strength and might and power of God Himself at our disposal. Stop living a ceilinged life, and live to your potential...live without limits!
In my Bible I have written beside this verse: Live w/o Limits. At the end of a year we traditionally look back and consider all the things we fell short on in the past year and create "resolutions" or goals to remedy these things. But do you ever find yourself, even as you're setting these goals, thinking, "There's no way I'm gonna actually do this"? Sometimes--many times--we're defeated in an endeavor before we even set out upon it. There is no need for us to live like this! We are held back only by the limitations we place on ourselves. As children of the Most High God, we have not only our own strength, (for that is frail indeed) but the strength and might and power of God Himself at our disposal. Stop living a ceilinged life, and live to your potential...live without limits!
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