Are You Ready for Change?

Someone posted on Facebook a cute saying about next year being the beginning of a new book.

"Go out there and write a bestseller!"

My response was a bit cynical: "I think I'd rather have a boring year that doesn't make the bestseller list for drama, suspense, scandal and plot twists. That probably ain't gonna happen either!"

It is the end of a year and the beginning of a new year.

Or the beginning of a new day. Or a new hour. Or a new minute.

And one thing that is consistent is change.

Health. Wealth. Security. Death. Job. Children. Church. Home. Weather. Friends.

Everything and everyone around us is going to change.

Life will be different at the end of 2015. Or the end of this week. Or the end of this day.

Sometimes the amount of change that we go through in a certain period is overwhelming. And when we can't deal with change, then we have problems.

In the midst of all the change, there is a constant.

"For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6).

God does not change.

What a blessing that is!

In the context of Malachi, God is reminding Israel that His immutability, the fact that He doesn't change, is to give them comfort.

He made a promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the patriarchs of Israel. And He isn't going to change His mind.

Israel had been continually rebellious to God and His plan. But God didn't change.

His standards remain the same.

His promises remain the same.

His character remains the same.

We will face change. We will change.

Our entire world could be turned upside down very easily.

But God will never change.

All I Have to Be

I've been cleaning and baking this evening listening to the Ball Brothers on Spotify. About every song I hear is my new favorite.

This one: All I Have to Be by the Ball Brothers, is a great reminder of setting priorities. Whether we're trying to decide what to do on a particular day, or trying to decide a major for college studies, we need to be reminded that those tasks and goals are simply side issues.

They are not irrelevant.

There are biblical commands and principles to guide us in our decisions - the big ones and the little ones.

But all we have to do is wrapped up in Christ.

"All I have to be is Yours."

The demands on us each day are great. We have appointments to keep. We have bills to pay - so we go to work.

The kids need us. The church needs us. The parents need us. The boss needs us. The customer needs us.

And these are not bad things.

But all those things can crowd out all that we need to be: "All I have to be is Yours."

What does that mean?

First, it speaks of a relationship. We are His. He has purchased us with the blood of His Son (1 Peter 1:18-19). He is our Father; we are His children.

Second, it speaks of activity. As we go about the tasks each day, we need to remember that we are ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). Our words and actions should be drawing attention to Him, not to ourselves.

So, as you look at the list of tasks to accomplish in the next days, remember, "All you have to be is His."

His child.

His instrument.

Everything else on your to-do list is a reflection of your position and your responsibility in Christ.

For God's Sake!

It seems like this is a line from a British drama.

And if a lot of us had said this as children, our mom's would have washed our mouths out with soap.

But, it's actually quite a biblical phrase. One that is used often. Often in the Psalms. Often in prayers. 

It's a phrase that should be in our vocabulary and in our thoughts.

The prophet Daniel read the book of Jeremiah and discovered that the Babylonian captivity would last seventy years. Daniel's response was to break out in a prayer of national confession.

His prayer ended with a request.

It was not, "Lord, we have suffered enough. Please restore us to Jerusalem."

Or, "Lord, we can't take this anymore. Please show us your mercy and relieve the pressure."

Or, "Lord, we have humbled ourselves. Now reward us with prosperity."

Listen to this:

"Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name" (v 17-19).

Daniel's plea was for restoration. But not to make his life better.

His plea was for restoration for God's sake.

The purpose of his prayer was that God's name would be made glorious.

That God's promises would be fulfilled.

That God's city would be rebuilt.

That God's temple would be restored.

That God's people would be returned.

What does your prayer life look like?

Are you praying for your sake?

Or maybe for the sake of someone else?

Or are you praying for God's sake?

This Should Be Normal

Hebrews 12 is a familiar passage. At least bits and pieces of it are familiar. Put it all together and you will be encouraged.

The chapter is about battling sin, but we often emphasize God's acts of discipline.

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives" (v 5-6).

The following verses compare and contrast the discipline that we receive from our heavenly Father with that which we received from our earthly fathers (v 7-10).

Usually it's taught that the discipline is a result of sinful actions.

You do something bad, God will punish you.

But if you go to the beginning of the chapter it appears that the topic is not punishment for sin, but victory over sin.

That fits with Romans 8:1 and a host of other passages about the penalty having been paid through the death of Christ.

Look at the commands at the beginning of the chapter:

"Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..." (v 1-2a).

Laying aside, enduring, looking to Jesus don't sound like instructions for someone who is living in rebellion, but someone who is struggling with victory over sin.

They want victory, but it's hard and they are discouraged.

They want to live like the great saints in chapter eleven, but it's so hard.

to that person comes the chastening of the Lord. or maybe those acts of enduring, laying aside, and looking are aspects of that chastening, the discipline.

The writer is not sending a warning, but encouragement.

If God weren't correcting you, it would mean He doesn't love you. You are not His child (v 7-8). Take heart that you are being disciplined. It's an evidence that you are loved by God.

God disciplines us for our benefit. His goal is our righteousness. He is in control and has a plan (v 9-11). Even though this phase of discipline looks out of control, it's not.

The writer continues his encouragement by giving instruction to those who are battling sin in the next verses (v 12-15).

• Don't get discouraged (v 12-13).
• Don't stir up trouble (v 14a).
• Don't miss God's goal (v 14b).
• Don't hinder other's spiritual growth (v 15a).
• Don't get bitter (v 15b).

The context of the chapter seems to indicate that discipline should be a frequent part of the Christian's life. It's not punishment for sinfulness, but part of the process of sanctification.

"What sins are you battling?" should be a part of our conversations to encourage one another in spiritual growth.

All believers are battling sin.

And we may need to go to Hebrews 12 to encourage one another in the battle.

Nobody Wants to be like Him

In his book, Accidental Pharisees, Larry Osborne brings up some interesting ideas about Joseph of Arimathea.

Anyone who knows the Easter events knows that name. Joseph was the one who asked Pilate for the body of Christ. Joseph was the one who placed the body of Christ in his own tomb.

That's the only time he's mentioned in the Bible. But the Bible writers give us enough detail in the descriptive phrases to put together a picture of Joseph of Arimathea.

He was rich (Mt 27:57).

He was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council (Mk 15:43).

He was a good and righteous man who had not consented to the crucifixion of Jesus (Lk 23:50).

He was afraid of what other's thought of him (Jn 19:38). He kept the fact that he was a disciple of Jesus quiet because he was afraid of the repercussions to his career and social standing.

Osborne titled this chapter, The Disciple that No One Wants to Be.

When we talk about discipleship, we talk about sacrifice. We talk about living out our faith no matter the cost. We talk about fearing God rather than fearing man. We talk about standing up for what is right. We talk about separating from ungodly influences.

Joseph of Arimathea was just the opposite.

He was a wealthy, prominent political-religious leader who kept his devotion to Christ secret.

Until he was needed.

Normally, the bodies of the criminals who were crucified were not given the decency of a burial. Their corpses were thrown on to the city dump to be scavenged by dogs and birds.

But Joseph of Arimathea wanted to show respect to Jesus.

He had the means. He had the position. He had the courage.

He went to Pilate and asked for the body of his Savior.

He placed Jesus in his own tomb. His devotion to the Messiah would no longer be secret.

And this act of honor plays a big part in the resurrection.

No Joseph of Arimathea, no tomb.

No tomb, no guards in front of the tomb.

No tomb, no visible proof that Jesus had risen from the dead.

There are people who go to your church who are probably a lot like Joseph. And you wonder how they can claim to be a disciple.

They never go on a missions trip. They never give a testimony. They never help with VBS. They have got more resources than you do.

And yet they claim to be a disciple.

And we judge them because they aren't as on fire as we think they should be.

That's not our job. Paul wrote that it's not our job to judge another person's servant (Rom 15:1-4). The disciple who looks more like Joseph than we think he should, is not our disciple. It's not our role to judge him.

So stop it.

Paid in Full

The writer to Hebrews is contrasting all the greatness of the Old Testament system with the greatness of Jesus Christ. He proves that Jesus is far greater than the angels, Moses, the Law, the sacrificial system, the temple and the High Priest. The thrust of this letter is to challenge those believers who wanted to go back to Judaism while remaining followers of Jesus Christ.

Why go back, when what you have is far superior to what you had?

Of course, the applications are relevant for those of us today who are followers of Jesus Christ, even if we never were a follower of Judaism.

Let's consider one example from chapter 7.

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself (v 26-27).

Jesus is being contrasted with the high priests. Since they were men with a sin nature, they had to first offer sacrifices for their own sins before they could represent the people before God.

And this they had to do every day. Because every day they would sin. Never did a day pass that the high priests did not sin.

Jesus is described as "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."

Everything that the high priest wasn't.

Everything that you and I are not.

But look at the end of the verse 27: "...since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself."

Jesus, since He was "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens," was able to offer a sacrifice that is sufficient for our sins.

All of them.

Not one sin exists in your life that is too great to be covered by the blood of Christ.

Not one sin that you will commit is too great that the blood of Christ will not be able to cover it.

Several benefits arise from that:

1. We know that our sins are fully covered. Not 99%. We don't have to be afraid that when we get to heaven, Jesus will say, "Wait, you forgot to confess this one." "Sorry, you didn't do enough to earn forgiveness for that sin."
2. We don't need to keep sacrificing. Some will repeat the sacrifice of Christ each time they go to church and participate in rituals, hoping that it will be enough to cover their sins of that last week. "Once for all" means that it is completed.
3. We don't need to try to add to what Christ has done. Our sufferings, our good deeds, our obedience, our sacrifices will not add one drop of blood, not one ounce of protection, to the full price that Christ has paid.

"It is finished." 

Your debt has been fully paid.

All you have to do is to accept the truths of God's Word.

You can do nothing else.

Have you done that? Or are you still trying to do it on your own?

Psalm 1 Rewritten in First Person

I did this for a study that I'm doing:

Psalm 1

If I want to be happy,

I need to choose not to listen to wicked wisdom.

I need to be careful about with whom I spend my time.

I need to avoid those who are mocking the truth.

If I want to be happy,

I need to find my satisfaction in the Word of God.

I need to spend my hours thinking on His Word.

Then my life will be well-grounded and flourishing.

I will be fruitful at just the right time.

I will be able to withstand the hard times.

I will have success in what I do.

If I choose to sin, I will be useless and dead.

I won’t be able to stand against God’s righteousness.

I won’t be able to fellowship the righteous.

God will keep me safe if I obey,

But if I choose to sin, He will bring about my destruction

You Harvest what you Plant - Part 2

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Gal 6:7-8).

The principle of sowing and reaping is evident at this time of the year. Farmers who planted soybeans are harvesting soybeans. And in the fields where they planted corn, they are harvesting corn.

In the last post, we considered sowing to the flesh that leads to corruption.

The end of verse 8 states, "...the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Just as feeding our minds and filling our time with satisfying our passions will lead to disappointment and destruction, feeding our minds and filling our time with godly pursuits will lead to spiritual blessings.

So what does that look like?

1. Reading the Bible

The only source for knowing God is through reading the Bible. Oodles of methods are out there. Just do it. The more time and energy you invest, the more you will reap. It's not a matter of knowing more about the Bible; it's a matter of knowing God through the Bible.

2. Prayer

Prayer is our communication with God. Praise, thanksgiving, requests, fellowship - all those are part of prayer. The more time we spend in prayer, the more we are investing in our spiritual lives.

3. Community

God did not call us to be Lone Ranger Christians. He called the people of Israel. He called the church. He instituted the local church. He calls for believers to be involved in a local community to help them to grow and to help others to grow.

4. Service

When we are living to satisfy our passions, we are living for ourselves. God calls us to live for others. Through a life of service, we should be investing the spiritual lives of others, and reaping spiritual benefits for ourselves.

5. Suffering

No one wants to suffer, but that's the way life is. Life's tough. Get used to it. But the way we suffer will help us to grow spiritually. We will learn dependence on God. We will learn to help others when they suffer.

6. Anticipation

We have a bright future. Not when we graduate from school. Not when we get married and have kids. not when we retire. Those are all pretty paltry in comparison to the future that awaits us in glory at the right hand. We should be living in anticipation of our resurrection, being united with Christ for all of eternity at the right hand of God.

You might add more to the list.

While making a list is a good exercise, practicing those things is what will bring the fruit.

A farmer may know all that he needs to know. But if he doesn't go to the trouble of preparing the soil and planting the seed, there will be no harvest.

You Harvest what you Plant - Part 1

The fields around my house are getting bare. All summer long they have been filled with green plants. In the last month they have turned from green to yellow to brown.

And now the farmers, when it hasn't been raining, are bringing in the harvest. The soybeans and corn are filling the bins.

All of these farmers planted seed expecting a harvest. Those who planted corn, harvested corn. And in the fields where they planted soybeans, they harvested soybeans.

Any farmer who plants corn and expects soybeans to grow should probably get out of farming.

The Bible teaches the same principle in relation to our spiritual lives.

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8).

Like in the physical world, so in the spiritual world. What we plant will determine what we harvest.

If you are feeding your mind with romantic novels, you will hunger for that type of love. Left unchecked, you will find it. And be disappointed.

If you are feeding your mind with pornography, you will hunger for that type of sex. As you follow that path, you will find it. And be disappointed.

If you are feeding your mind with the latest organizational skills and tools, so that you can have everything under control, you'll get there. You'll have your hours planned out and make check marks on your to-do lists. But you'll be sorely disappointed when a crisis comes, changing your plans.

If you are feeding your mind with the latest deals at Kohl's, you will have no trouble spending that cash back and getting more. Only later will you realize that you were feeding materialism and be disappointed. The piles of stuff at your estate auction won't satisfy - or bring back the money that you planted.

What you reap is what you have sown.

Sow to the flesh and you'll reap corruption. You'll reap disappointment. You'll reap frustration. You'll reap sin.

Keep feeding those sinful desires.

Keep trying to satisfy your lust for love.

Keep trying to satisfy your desire for dreams.

Keep trying to satisfy you passion for position.

And you'll be disappointed with the results. It will never be enough. You will never be satisfied. There will always be something bigger, better and more beautiful that you don't have.

It's a promise from God.

Mutual Confession - Part 3

James has explained to us the value of ongoing confession of sins to one another. Ongoing confession and prayer for one another are necessary for maintaining spiritual health (James 5:13-16).

What biblical principles guide us in our practice?

1. Only God forgives sin.

The Bible never teaches that believers need a human mediator to grant us forgiveness. Forgiveness of sins comes through the completed work of Christ on the cross. It is His blood that cleanses and forgives us (1 John 1:7-9). Only one mediator, Christ Jesus, is necessary (1 Tim 2:5-6).

Therefore, the purpose of ongoing mutual confession is not to grant forgiveness.

2. The penalty for sin has been paid.

The work of Christ on the cross paid the complete penalty for all of our sins (Col 2:13-14). Nothing more needs to be, or can be added to the make up for the sins which we commit (Rom 8:1).

Therefore, the purpose of ongoing mutual confession is not to dole out punishment. Confession of sin is not an act of penance, attempting to earn favor with God, or to appease His wrath.

3. Believers have a mutual responsibility for spiritual needs.

When a believer gives in to temptation, restoration is the responsibility of mature believers (Gal 6;1-4). Part of that restoration involves praying for those who have committed sin (1 John 5:16). Restoration may involve counsel, encouragement and definitely patience (1 Thess 5:14).

Therefore, one purpose of ongoing mutual confession is to restore that individual through prayer and encouragement to a right relationship with God. It may also involve helping to restore relationships with others who have been affected by the sin.

Putting it all together

The obvious parameters need to be established: Honesty. Integrity. Consistency. Keeping confidences. Not mixed genders. Maturity. Hard work. Trust.

Such a setting would take all of those ingredients.

But as two or three believers meet on a weekly, or bi-weekly, schedule, confessing the sins which have weighed them down to one another, the others can speak the truths of God's Word to them. Reminding one another of God's forgiveness, patience, and sovereignty, will bring encouragement toward godliness.

Another advantage will be an awareness of sin. Or, perhaps more aptly put, "positive peer pressure." Knowing that I will be confessing my sins to my brothers in a few days provides one more defense in the battle against sin.

If any readers have had experience with ongoing mutual confession, I'd like to hear about it.

Mutual Confession - Part 2

In the last post, a description was given of a fellow believer who was so spiritually downtrodden due to suffering, that he called the mature believers of the church to pray for him.

One particularly interesting instruction is given for the mature believers in this situation, "anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14). While some have argued that this is a symbolic anointing with healing powers, the word translated "anointing" is the common, every day word for "rubbing with oil" If James had meant the ceremonial anointing, he would have used a different Greek word.

The setting then develops into the mature believers in the church not only praying for the suffering brother, but also providing medical treatment. If we continue the picture of a believer who had been suffering for the sake of the gospel, beatings could very well have been given. The mature believers were to care for the spiritual and physical needs of this suffering brother.

Their ministry was one of encouragement through spiritual and physical support in the name of the Lord - under His authority, as He would have done it if He had been physically present.

As the mature believers pray, their prayer of faith will save, or restore, the weakened brother. Again, James is not using words related to physical sickness, but to spiritual weakness. The weakened brother will be restored to spiritual strength through the Lord's intervention (v 15a). 

The forgiveness of sins underscores that this is a spiritual restoration, not a physical one (v 15b). While there are examples of physical ailment being a result of sin, the Bible does not teach that this is always the case. However, ongoing sin will always lead to spiritual defeat. The mature believers can help the defeated believer recognize his sins and confess them.

With that setting in mind, we arrive at the verse in question: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (v 16a).

It seems that James is transitioning, using the above example of a spiritually-distressed believer as a warning to the church.

The tense of "confess" is not a one-time act, but an ongoing practice. My paraphrase of this verse would be something like this, "So that this does not happen, keep on confessing your sins to one another and keep on praying for one another that you may stay in a continuous state of health."

Only by keeping short accounts with God and with one another, and by praying for those spiritual struggles and sins of one another, can we maintain spiritual health.

The next post will consider practical ways of confessing sins to one another and praying for one another.

Mutual Confession

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16a).

Most of us like the middle part of that sentence. Praying for one another is what we say we'll do.

We're pretty uncomfortable with the confessing of sins to one another. And we're not real sure about how that is all related to healing.

So, we take the middle part and run with it.

But if we look at the verses before and after this command, it makes sense.

Not only that, it provides an excellent avenue of ministry, discipleship and encouragement that should be found among followers of Christ.

James begins, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise" (v 13).

The word "suffering" refers to enduring evil treatment by people, not physical illness (2 Tim 2:9; 4:5). James is addressing those who are suffering at the hands of others. Those who suffer in this way are called to pray.

And if someone in the midst of their suffering is cheerful, he is to sing praise. The one who is suffering prays for strength. The one who is cheerful in the suffering praises God for the strength he has received.

The next person described has moved into a deeper struggle in his suffering. James uses "sick" to describe this person. The word translated "sick" can be translated physical sickness, but in the epistles it is primarily used to refer to spiritual weakness produced by the sufferings of life (2 Cor 12:10).

The Bible often connects physical suffering with spiritual struggles. In Psalm 38, David describes his physical ailments brought on by unconfessed sin. Paul explains that some in the Corinthian church are weak and ill, and some have died, because they have participated in the Lord's Table in an unworthy manner (1 Cor 11:30). And the author of Hebrews connects suffering with God's discipline (Hebr 12:3-13).

The weak brothers, those who are suffering at the hands of others, are to call the elders of the church and ask them to pray for them.

They are so downtrodden that they are no longer able to pray for themselves. The mature believers are called upon to bring them before the throne of grace. This parallels the idea of Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness."

So far, we have a beautiful picture of mature believers coming alongside and praying for their brothers who are spiritually weakened due to extensive spiritual suffering.

We'll look at the rest of this passage tomorrow.

Bad Things Done by Bad People

When bad things happen to us, some people will remind us that God is in control.

God is sovereign, so we can trust Him.

That is a biblical truth, but often in the depth of the crisis, it's hard to see how God is in control. When it's hard to see, we don't want to hear it either.

This week I was thinking of the evil things that women in the Bible had done.

The first one that came to mind was Queen Athaliah. When she realized that her son, Ahaziah, was dead, Athaliah killed the rest of the royal family, so that she could be queen of Judah (2 Kings 11:1-3).

Then Delilah, a prostitute in the land of the Philistines, who whined to Samson until he revealed the secret of his strength. Delilah was paid handsomely and Samson was captured and had his eyes gouged out (Judges 16).

But as I thought through the next chapters of the events, it became clear that God was in control of these evil women and their evil actions.

A nurse had hidden one of the royal sons, who was presented as king seven years later. Athaliah was executed and revival came about under the leadership of Joash. The temple was repaired and the Word of God was honored (2 Kings 11:4-12:21).

Samson was left in prison, but his hair began to grow out. As the lords of the Philistines mocked this once mighty warrior of Israel, the blind Samson knocked down the pillars of the building, killing more of God's enemies at that time, than he had in any other battle (Judges 16:23-31).

And the longer I thought about it, it wasn't just evil women with evil plans. Evil men with evil plans remained under God's control, bringing about major events displaying God's glory.

So when evil men or women do evil things against us, rather than looking at them and their evil, we can look to God. We can ask ourselves, "What good will God bring out of this?"

I've Got Everything Under Control

I’ve Got Everything Under Control

1 I’ve got everything under control; no worries. I can take care of myself!

2 Everyone, listen to me! Look to me for help! I’ve got it all under control; I’ll tell you what needs to be done.

3 Nothing can move me; I’ve got my life all planned out and ready to go!

4 No one can surprise me with their tricks; I’ve always got an escape plan.

5 I’ve got everything under control. I’m a self-made man and I can do it myself!

6 Religion is for wimps; You’ve got to help yourself!

7 Victory over others is key; don’t worry about the emotions!

8 I’ve gotten myself out of a lot of messes before; I stand on my own two feet!

9 Look at me! I’m victorious. Tired and worn out, but I’ve won again!

10 I’ve left a wake of pain behind me. It’s not been a pleasant life. And I’m getting old and worn out.

11 I don’t have many friends. My neighbors hide if they see me coming. Most people hate me.

12 Most people have forgotten me. Some wish I were dead.

13 I am sure that they are plotting a scheme to take over.

14 But no worries! I’ve beat them at this game before, I’ll do it again!

15 I’ve got my strategy all figured out. They won’t outsmart me!

16 I’ll be happy when I’ve won again!

17 They won’t be able to embarrass me, because I’m the best! Everyone will forget about the other guys, but they won’t forget me!

18 If I have to lie to get my way, that’s okay. And if the good people suffer, that’s alright, too.

19 I’ve worked hard to get to where I am and I’m not going to let anyone get me down.

20 I can protect myself! I don’t need help from anyone else. Let them say what they want! I will overcome!

21 I can remember the victories of the past, reminding myself of how great I am.

22 Even if everyone else forgets me, I’ll still remember myself, my conquests and my victories.

23 Everyone should love me! I’ll help those who help me and crush those who hate me.

24 Come join my side! We are bound to win, because I’ve got everything under control.

Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit (Psalm 31)

1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; 

4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. 

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. 

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 

8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. 

9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 

10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 

11Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 

12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 

13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror on every side!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 

14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 

15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 

  

16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 

17 O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 

18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. 

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 

20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 

21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 

22 I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 

23 Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 

24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!

The Light of My Life

My Family is the Light of My Life

1 My family is the light of my life and my reason for living, yet I live in fear. My family gives me a reason to keep on going, yet I am afraid of losing them.

2 When others criticize me, I put up a barrier and justify myself.

3 When my wife criticizes me, I crumble in fear; if the children won’t listen to me, I am afraid that I’m doing something wrong again.

4 But I only want to keep my family together and happy. That’s all I really want. To be able to sit together around the table and talk about the day. To enjoy Christmas dinner with the grandkids.

5 But when trouble comes they abandon me; they go after their own dreams; they build their own families; they don’t even call.

6 So I hang my head in shame, I've got nothing to offer, no reason to rejoice. I’m alone.

7 Why won’t the children tell me what I did wrong?

8 I only wanted to make them happy. Everything I did was to help them.

9 Yet they've turned against me. They won’t talk to me. They won’t answer my calls. I've been abandoned, forsaken by the ones in whom I had placed my hope.

10 I don’t even fit in with my own family.

11 It seems that everyone is looking for a way to trip me up, waiting for me to fall again.

12 I might as well give up to what they want me to do; whatever I do, it’s the wrong thing, and people are just plotting against me.

13 Life is only going to get worse. What’s the point?

14 I’m tired of waiting for my family to come back to me; I’m going to die a weak and lonely old man.


But,

If the LORD is the light of my life...

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 

5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 

8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 

9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 

14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

(Psalm 27)

Time to Give Up...Again

In the events of life, we easily forget the eternal perspective.

Sometimes it's during the good times of life that we get so wrapped up in what's going on around us, that we think we are satisfied. Everyone is happy and life is going well. It's easy to think that we have arrived.

More often, it's during the rough times of life. Cancer. Broken marriage. Meaningless career. Foreclosure on the family home. Frustration in ministry. Rebellious child. Continued battles with temptation.

When life gets hard, despair creeps in.

And we are not alone. Godly men in the Bible despaired when life got hard.

Jeremiah wept and wrote the book of Lamentations to express his grief.

As his problems piled upon him, Job cursed the day of his birth.

And Paul feared for his life and despaired.

"We do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia; that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us" (2 Cor 1:8-10).

R.C. Sproul wrote in Surprised by Suffering, "Paul entered into despair. But his despair was limited. It was not ultimate despair. He despaired of his earthly life. He was sure that he was going to die. But Paul did not despair of the ultimate deliverance from death. He knew the promise of Christ for victory over death."

To hope in anything but the resurrection seems rather pointless. 

Hope for a better tomorrow?

Hope for a healed relationship? 

Hope for marriage?

Hope for children?

Hope for a better job?

Hope for healing from cancer?

Hope? 

Why bother?

All those things that we "hope" for are temporal. And we have no promises for any of those things changing in our lives.

But we do have hope in the resurrection.

Paul wrote in his theological exposition of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:

"If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied" (v 19).

If our only hope is in these temporal blessings, then we really are to be pitied.

But since we have hope in the resurrection, a hope of eternal life, then the events of this life fade in relevance to eternity.

Unfortunately, we forget this and God chooses us to remind us by bringing us through some hard times.

I Want It NOW!

In the original Willy Wonka movie, Baruca was one of the spoiled children. When the tour brought the group to the room with the geese that laid golden eggs, she told her dad very emphatically, "I want it NOW!"

I think Baruca and her dad ended up in the chute with the bad eggs.

Does that reflect our prayers?

We want God to take away the trials NOW!

We want God to take away the temptations NOW!

We want God to bless us NOW!

In Exodus 23, God is instructing the Israelites about conquering the Promised Land. He promises to send the Angel of the LORD before them to lead them (v  20-21). He promises to send hornets before them to drive out the enemies (v 28).

God promises to lead and fight for the Israelites.

But He also promises that it won't be a quick fight.

"I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land" (v 29-30).

God could have sent a fire, an angel, a disease, or any number of ways to wipe out the enemies instantly.

But He chose to drive them out slowly, so that Israel would be able to increase in population and be able to possess the land. Those who had been wandering in the wilderness for forty years were not capable to take over the work required to care for the land. They weren't skilled or strong enough. They didn't have enough man-power.

This parallels our spiritual growth, too.

We would like God to keep us from falling into the same sin over and over again.

God does promise that He will fight for us (1 Cor 10:13). He does promise victory over temptation.

But it may be a slow process.

His goal is not simply that we would have victory over temptation. He has so much more to teach us about Himself and ourselves.

And that takes time.

God's Grace in Restoration

In Leviticus 8 the account of the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood is recorded.

They were set apart. Special garments were placed on Aaron as high priest. Anointed with oil. Animal sacrifices. Blood on the altar. Blood on the right ear lobes, right thumbs and right big toes.

All this was to signify the importance and uniqueness of this ministry.

It's a familiar account.

But this is the same Aaron, who, less than a few months earlier at the foot of the same mountain where this ordination was taking place, made the golden calf (Exodus 32).

He called the people to give him their gold. He fashioned it into a calf and said, "Here are your gods that brought you out of Egypt!"

And now he's being set apart as THE high priest over all of Israel? The primary connection between God and His people was leading them in idolatry a few months earlier?

Really?

What was God thinking? Didn't Aaron need to go through some kind of ministry rehab?

Start him back down at the bottom of the totem pole until he proved himself faithful in small tasks?

I suppose by now, some of you have started to think of a New Testament parallel.

Peter denied that he knew Christ in the hours before the crucifixion.

Not once. But three times.

After the resurrection and before the ascension of Christ, Jesus came to Peter and commanded him, "Feed My sheep."

Not once. But three times.

And we see in Acts, which continues the account less than two months after the crucifixion, that Peter is the leader in the church. 

He's the one who stands up and explains what is happening on the day of Pentecost. 

He's the one who preaches and gets thrown in jail. 

He's the one who heals a lame man. 

He's the one who stands before the Jews and says, "We must obey God rather than man."

Aren't those two men, Aaron and Peter, amazing accounts of God's grace at restoring to ministry?

They still made mistakes after getting back into the saddle. But God didn't leave them on the bleachers because of their horrific sins.

He picked them up and used them for His glory.

And He can do the same with those of us who have fallen. 

"Fallen" is not the end of the story.

Random Thoughts about Giving

Giving seems to be the theme of the month in different studies and Scripture reading. Perhaps it's an area in which I can grow...no, it IS an area in which I can grow!

Here are some random thoughts about giving pulled from various places:

1. God blesses generous people.

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor (Prov 22:9).

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done (Prov 19:17).

2. Biblical generosity involves sacrifice.

The Macedonian churches gave "out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints" (2 Cor 8:2-4).

3. Biblical generosity is thoughtful, voluntary, and worshipful.

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7).

4. Giving is commanded.

"On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made (1 Cor 16:2).

5. While meeting the needs of our family is commanded, laying up wealth (building equity, a large retirement fund, big house, new boat, trendy clothing, extravagant vacations, etc.) is described as a snare to spiritual growth.

"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim 5:8).

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that (1 Tim 6:6-8).

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Tim 6:17).

6. Caring for the physical needs of the disadvantaged is an act of worship.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction..." (James 1:27).

7. Our earthly possessions reveal our spirituality.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:19-21).

So, what's the application that you need to be working on?

Do you stop and think about how you could be giving that money rather than spending it?

I've got some work to do, how about you?

Is There Really Any Hope?

At the end of Romans 7, Paul describes his personal struggle with sinfulness and holiness:

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

"For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v 15-25a).

Anyone who is struggling to live a holy life will be able to understand this. We know what God expects. We even delight in His Word. We want to do what is right and pleasing to God.

But the battle is constant. We want to do right, but we don't always do it.

Paul gives us the victory point: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Victory in Jesus!

But then the verse ends, "So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."

So there's victory, but the battle continues. Is there really any hope?

Look at the next verse: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (8:1).

The real hope is in eternity.

We will fall into sin. We will live in victory. We will fall again. We will be victorious. Then we'll fall again.

But, for those who are in Christ Jesus, there will be no condemnation.

When we come into the throne room of God, He is not going to condemn us. He is not going to beat us for our sins. He is not going to send us to hell, because our times of sin were greater than our times of holiness.

Because we stand in Christ, we are cleansed, whole, holy, forgiven, justified, redeemed, complete, sanctified, and set free.

Even in this life of ups and downs, struggling between holiness and sinfulness, at the end of our lives on earth, we will stand before God without condemnation.

Jesus paid it all!
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.

Rejection is Hard!

It starts in elementary school - or at least it was like this when I was in elementary school. Kickball teams get picked at recess. And someone is always the last one picked.

Sports career is ruined.

Then maybe through high school you get rejected from the star roles in the plays and musicals.

Drama career? Not likely.

And how many applications did you go through to get that job?

Rejection is pretty much a part of life. And we learn to deal with it. We learn that there are activities like sports and drama that you leave for others to do. And you learn that there are other things to do besides sports and drama.

But as an adult it seems that rejection keeps coming and keeps getting harder.

Maybe you got fired from a job.

Maybe you got served divorce papers.

Maybe an adult child tells you that he wants nothing to do with you ever again.

Maybe you've been abandoned and left in a nursing home with no one to visit you.

Rejection is hard. It causes pain. It causes awkward situations. It leads to sleepless nights.

It's a part of life. It hurts.

But let's turn that around and look at it from God's perspective.

Do we ever stop to think that every time we choose to disobey, we are rejecting God?

Does it even cross our minds when facing temptation, that to surrender to self is a rejection of God?

How it must hurt God, who is holy, loving and kind - all the time - and therefore does not deserve to be rejected!

Yet, He remains holy, loving and kind. Forgiving. Merciful. Gracious.

If we reject Him through our disobedience, He is ready to accept us back into fellowship. He hasn't turned His back on us; we have turned from Him.

The remedy for the broken relationship is repentance: turning from our sin and turning toward God.

"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7-9).

God has not rejected you. If the relationship with Him is broken, you can turn to Him.

You and Me are a lot like Gomer

I read through the first two chapters of Hosea this evening, preparing for our small group study.

I've read it before. I've taught it. I've preached through it.

But something struck me tonight.

You'll remember that God commanded Hosea to marry a whore, Gomer, and have children with her. Each child's name was a prophecy against Israel. It appears that the last two ("No Mercy" and "Not my people" - how'd you like to hear your mama holler that from the front porch?), were not Hosea's children.

Hosea had married a prostitute and as soon as she had weaned their first child, she was back to her ways.

Their marriage is a picture of Israel. Gomer is Israel and Hosea is God. God choose Israel to be His bride, but Israel continued the life of a hooker, chasing after other lords and masters.

And all along, God was providing for Israel's needs. She thought it was her lovers who were bringing her food and clothing. But it was God.

Then I thought about you and me (mostly me). How I am a lot like Gomer. God has rescued me. Chosen me to be the object of His love. Provides for me. Meets my needs. Longs to satisfy me.

Yet I so often choose to find my satisfaction in other things. I choose to submit to other masters.

And I think that they are the ones meeting my needs.

But all the time, God is there. Putting food on my table. Paying the rent. He even gives me the money to squander on my own idolatry!

Like Gomer and Israel, the path away from God is not a pleasant one. And God will not let me continue running from Him. Like Hosea did with Gomer. Like God did with Israel.

God will intervene.

So you and I can choose to keep running until God intervenes. Or we can come to Him willingly. Confessing and repenting. Being thankful and satisfied.

I'd like to choose God. How about you?

God's Plan for Victory

In his book, Sexual Sanity for Men, David White has stirred my thinking to a variety of new concepts related to victory over sin. It's a book that every man should read, even if sexual sins are not the current struggle. The principles are the same whether you are struggling with pornography or gluttony or bitterness - besides, I don't think God makes a distinction.

The "new idea" of this past week has been the teaching that confession to others is part of God's plan for victory over sin. And he's not talking about confession to those whom we have offended through our sinful actions, although that topic comes up in other sections.

1 John 1:9 is a common verse which talks about confession: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Usually, we read it, "If we confess our sins to God, He is faithful..." But that is not what the verse says.

If you look at the context of 1 John 1:5-10, John is talking about walking in the light, which includes fellowship with other believers.

Look at verse 7 :"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Consider also Proverbs 28:13, "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." We can't hide our sins from God who sees everything. We can, however, keep them hidden from others.

And James 5:16 states, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

When we choose to sin, we not only wish that God would not see us, but we work very hard to keep it hidden from others. We keep our distance. We lie. We make excuses. We talk about other problems, but not the temptations that are keeping us from obedience and joy. We do good things to compensate for the bad. We are extremely creative in covering up sin.

Think of the freedom that can be had when you confess your sins to others!

You now longer have to hide from them. You may have driven some away from you, but you will know which people are truly brothers and sisters who are praying and encouraging you.

The hunger that you have for close fellowship and help will be there. God created us to have fellowship with Him and with others. If our fellowship with others is just fun and food, we might as well join the golf club.

But our hidden sin builds a barricade to that kind of brotherhood.

As the sin that has been weighing you down for years is exposed, you will experience a release from the pressure of hiding. You will be able to cry out to others for help. You will gain a team of prayer warriors.

Part of God's plan for healing, restoration and victory over sin includes other people. But YOU have to make the first step, confessing sin and crying out for help.

God Allows What He Hates

"Sometimes God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves" (Joni Eareckson Tada)

I read this quote this morning and it got me to thinking of many biblical examples.

The flood led to the rescue of Noah and his family.

The confusion of languages caused the spread of the peoples around the world.

Joseph being sold into slavery led to the survival of the nation of Israel.

Four-hundred years of slavery fostered the growth of the nation from 70 to over a million.

Daniel being taken captive to Babylon led to his ministry in the royal court.

David being hunted by Saul prepared him for battles and ruling.

The crucifixion led to our salvation.

You can probably think of more.

And since God hasn't changed, He still may work in the same way in our lives today.

That cancer that you're fighting might give you opportunities to witness, opportunities to grow in dependence on the Lord, or more.

The divorce might draw you closer to the Lord in dependence on Him and develop compassion for others.

The rebellious child will help you understand that heartbreak that you cause God when you rebel against Him, making you more sensitive to the gravity of sin in your life.

So often we think of the trials of life to be a punishment, or just fate. When we begin to think of how God can use those trials to bring glory to Himself and growth to us, then we can make progress.

Talk About It!

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble" (Psa 107:2).

Some wandered in the desert. Hungry and thirsty. They cried unto the LORD and He led them to a city. He satisfied their longing souls and filled their hungry souls with good things (v 4-9).

Some sat in darkness, imprisoned because of their rebellion to God. He brought affliction on them. When they cried to Him, He set them free (v 10-16).

Some were fools because of sinful choices. They suffered because of their sins. When they cried to the LORD, He delivered and healed them (v 17-22).

Some were caught up in their business and saw God's power in the waves. They lost control of everything. Their courage melted away. They were at their wits' end. When they called on Him, He calmed the sea (v 23-32).

No matter the circumstances or the trials that the LORD brings, He will deliver those who call upon Him.

So where are you right now?

Wandering about aimlessly. Knowing that there must be something better. Longing for something to fill the emptiness in your life.

Turned your back on God. Had enough of that church stuff. Been hurt by too much religion. Decided to go your own way.

Sitting in a jail cell, because you broke the law. Lying in a hospital bed because of the abuses you've put your body through. At home alone because you've driven friends and family away with your anger.

Busy with your career. Wondering if you'll survive the next downturn. Lost your job. Seeing the bank account dry up. Lost your home.

Little hope left. Hanging on to the end of the rope. Thinking of wrapping it around your neck.

Read Psalm 107.

It recounts people in the same place as you are and what they did about it.

They called out to God.

He helped them. He rescued them. He delivered them. He satisfied them.

And their response?

Tell everyone about it.

So if you're one of those "redeemed of the LORD," shout it out! Tell everyone about the greatness of God and how He changed you.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!

"But He was God!"

Have you ever heard that argument?

Have you ever used it for an excuse?

"Of course, Jesus never sinned. He was God! I'm not God, so what can you expect?"

"How can He really understand my struggles with temptation? He was God!"

Have you ever thought that by using that excuse you are actually denying the humanity of Christ?

We can't really understand it, but the Bible teaches that Jesus was 100% deity and 100% humanity at the same time. (It's called the hypostatic union for all you theological nerds out there. Not that that helps us understand it any better!)

Jesus never gave up being fully God, while at the same time He was fully human.

"So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man" (Westminster Confession).

His physical growth was real. His physical pain was real.

The temptation to turn rocks to bread was real - He was hungry and He could do it.

The temptation to take the kingdoms of the world without suffering was real - He was going to inherit them anyway, why go through the physical pain of death?

In His agony, He sweat real drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He plead with the Father, "If possible, take this cup from Me."

"For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).

Yes, Jesus was God. Yes, Jesus was man.

Yes, Jesus was tempted. Yes, Jesus did not give in to temptation.

Because of that, He can help us when we are tempted.

When we use the excuse, "But He was God," we are cutting off the help that we so desperately need.

(Summarized from Sexual Sanity for Men by David White, p 190).

A Great God - A Mighty Goal

"The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding with steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
Nor repay us according to our iniquities."

(Psalm 103:8-10)

What an amazing description of God's dealing with our sins!

God is merciful and gracious.
God is slow to anger.
God is abounding in steadfast love.
God will not always chide.
God will not keep His anger forever.
God does not deal with us according to our sins.
God does not repay us according to our iniquities.

That's how God is. But it is NOT how I am.

When someone sins against me, I get angry and seek revenge.
When someone sins against me, I want to hold it against them.
When someone sins against me, I want to bring it up to them over and over again.
When someone sins against me, I am anything but merciful and gracious.

And I only know that sin which that person has done against me.

God knows all of my sins. Even the ones that no one else knows about. He knows what I think. I don't know what others think about me.

And His standard for sin is much higher than mine. He cannot look at sin. He is more greatly offended at sin than I am.

A great God who deals with my sin with mercy and gracious.

A mighty goal for me in dealing with those who sin against me.

Filled to the Fullest

I can remember sitting at the kids' table at Grandma's house. No matter what holiday it was, and probably even when it wasn't a holiday, a feast was spread on the table.

And we ate and ate and ate. I can remember being so full that my stomach hurt.

Filled to the fullest. No room left for anything at all.

But then in a few hours, we would eat again. And I've been eating ever since.

We have to keep coming back to eat more. Even if we've been satisfied and stuffed.

It's the same with being satisfied with God.

Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers that they would be "filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:19).

First of all, it's pretty amazing to me that God wants to fill us with His fullness. Everything that God has, He wants to give to us. He desires to satisfy us with Himself. We will not be satisfied with anything else in the way that God will satisfy us.

Feasting on sin. Dining on the delicacies of pleasures. Drinking the filthy waters of temptation.

That will never satisfy.

Not only does God want to satisfy us, but He wants to satisfy us continually.

Not just in a great worship service on Sunday. Not just through an occasional hymn or Bible verse that goes through our minds.

But all the time. Always satisfied with God. Always filled with all of His fullness.

For that to happen, we need to be drinking from the Word. Feasting on His promises. Resting in His faithfulness. Rejoicing in His pleasures.

All the time.

"He is offering us nothing short of Himself! Any created things you've ever desired, even good things, have only been desirable to you because He is desirable. Your heart is only delighting because it has caught a miniscule glimpse of the beauty, majesty, strength, and glory of God. He wants to give you your heart's desire. The problem is that we're confused about what will truly bring joy to our souls" (Sexual Sanity for Men by David White, p 177).

He Will Hold Me Fast

A "new" song we sang today in church. I thought it was new, but then I see that the first two verses were written prior to 1918.

It's just bursting with Scripture references - Great!

He Will Hold Me Fast
Vv. 1-2 Ada Habershon (1861-1918)
Alt. Words (vv. 1-2) and Verse 3: Matt Merker

When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.

 

I could never keep my hold,
Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold,
He must hold me fast.

Refrain

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.

He'll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.

Refrain

For my life He bled and died,

Christ will hold me fast;

Justice has been satisfied;

He will hold me fast.

Raised with Him to endless life;

He will hold me fast;

'til our faith is turned to sight

when He comes at last!

Refrain

God's Plans to Protect

I've read First Samuel dozens of times. I've read through the life of David. The flight from Saul. The battles. His escape to the Philistines.

But somehow I didn't connect the accounts and see God's protective hand in the life of David.

Let me help you put the puzzle pieces together, starting in 1 Samuel 27.

Attempting to escape Saul, David fled to Gath (BTW: Gath's hometown hero, Goliath, was killed by David a few years earlier.) The king of Gath allowed David and his men, about 600 at this time, to settle in Ziklag. David gained the confidence of the king by leading raids. However, the king didn't realize that he was attacking the Philistine cities.

The Philistines began marching toward Saul and his armies. David and his men joined, but the other Philistine kings didn't want him to be part of the army. They were afraid that David would turn on them in the midst of the battle. So the king of Gath sent him back home.

When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they discovered that their wives and children had been taken by the Amalekites. It took them several days to track them down, recover them and return home.

So what was going on in the battle between the Philistines and Saul?

Saul and his sons were killed in the battle.

Remember how David had been careful to protect Saul, God's anointed?

It looks like God orchestrated the raid on Ziklag to keep David and his men out of the battle. In order to keep David and his men away from the temptation of killing Saul. Or at least to keep them from being accused of killing Saul.

Because of the difficulties that David had, he could not be involved or implicated in the death of the king of Israel.

God's plans may not have seemed clear to David at the time, but God allowed the crisis to protect David.

The changes in our plans may not fit our idea, but God may be using them to protect us from greater harm.

There are places that we might want to go. But God changes those plans.

There are people we'd like to see. But God changes those plans.

Perhaps it's because God has a greater plan and a greater perspective to see that plan.

He does.

So we can trust Him and the changes that come our way.

Too Much Like Saul - Not Enough Like David

I've been reading the history of Saul and David in First Samuel for the last couple of weeks. A common theme has been waiting on the Lord. It's probably been popping up a lot because it's something that I'm not very good at lately.

David was anointed to be the next king of Israel. He served as musician to the king. Killed Goliath. Married the king's daughter. The people praised him for his victories on the battlefields, placing him higher than the king.

And became a hunted man. Hunted by the king.

Two different times David had opportunity to kill the man who had been hunting him for several years. Yet he didn't. The king-in-waiting would not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed.

So he waited. 5 years. 10 years. 15 years. Even more waiting.

Saul had a problem with waiting.

He didn't wait for Samuel to come, so he offered sacrifices in order to rally the troops before battle.

He didn't complete the destruction of Amalek, saving the best as an offering for the LORD - so he said.

When Saul tired of waiting for God to answer him about going into battle against the Philistines, Saul called on a witch to call Samuel the prophet from the dead.

Every time that Saul didn't wait on God, he received a curse.

When David waited, he was chased around the countryside.

But in the end, Saul's dynasty failed and David's reigned and will reign again.

Unfortunately, I'm more like Saul.

"Surely, God wants me to do something about these problems, doesn't He?" That's how I reason.

"If I just...then this would happen." That's what I think.

But God wants me to wait. Maybe 5 years. Maybe 10 years. Maybe 15 years. Or maybe even longer.

Lord, help me to cling to Your promises and anticipate Your plan. Help me not to manipulate Your promises to further my plan.

God's Not Done

Have you ever had a bad week?

You know, one of those weeks in which it seems that the bad news and bad experiences don't quit coming your way?

Most of us have. Sometimes it lasts longer than a week. Sometimes it seems that it will never end. Sometimes it seems that the bad news just keeps piling up.

Pain. Sickness. Death.

Laid off. Fired. Unemployed.

Marital stress. Separation. Divorce.

Strained relationships. Anger. Broken relationships.

It's easy to think that all these events are stacking up against you.

That God has forgotten you.

That God will never be able to use you again.

Ephesians 2:10 has been encouraging to me this week.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has prepared in advance that we should walk in them."

Verses 8 and 9 are very familiar, telling us of the grace of God that has saved us. The gift of faith that we have received making us alive and seated in heaven with Christ.

But when the reality of life starts to overwhelm us, those verses sometimes get clouded, buried in the fog of stress.

As a child of God we can take confidence in the promise of verse 10. God has saved us to do good works. God has planned those works in advance. Long before the sickness that has restricted you to bed. Long before the divorce changed everything in your life. Long before any of the stress factors in your life came into your life.

God had a plan. And it wasn't a plan that lasted until some major event came and changed it.

That crisis is a part of God's plan to continue using you.

Others may have rejected you. God hasn't.

He's still got a plan to use you for good works. He hasn't been surprised or had to change His plan.

So, like before the crises, just keep walking. Do the good things that you know you should be doing.

The situation may not change. But God is not done with the good works that He has planned for you.