"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
This verse that is quoted often, especially in difficult times, carries much more power when we consider the context.
Jeremiah prophesied during the years preceding the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of Judah. His prophecies span about 50 years, warning the people that destruction was coming because of their sinfulness. He is an eyewitness to the siege of Zion (see Lamentations) and remains in Palestine among the poor after the majority of Judah had been carted off to Babylon.
In this passage, Jeremiah gives God's plan for the captivity. "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (v 10-11).
God had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to the nation through Moses and the prophets. Disobedience would bring judgment, but God would give the children of Israel an inheritance of land. At the time of Jeremiah, these prophecies were being fulfilled. Because of their rebellion, they were being taken away to a foreign land.
But because of God's faithfulness, He would bring them back - in seventy years.
Consider the following verses:
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile" (v 12-14).
God's purpose in the captivity was to draw the children of Israel back to Himself. After the time of captivity, God's chosen people would call upon Him and He will hear them. They would look for Him and He would be found by them.
The primary application is for Israel. God was going to drive them out of their land, but bring them back after 70 years.
A secondary application is for the New Testament follower of Jesus Christ, obviously doesn't involve a restoration to the land and physical blessings.
But it also does not mean simply that God will carry us through a difficult time. Often the intent of this verse on cards and coffee mugs is, "Just hold on. It's going to get better."
Like His desire for Israel, God's desire for the follower of Jesus Christ is that we would draw closer to Him. That we would become more dependent on Him, calling out to Him, being satisfied in Him, is His goal for us.
So, it is much more than just hanging on until it gets better.
God's plan is that we would be totally satisfied in Him. The difficulties that we walk through can remove the idols of our hearts. The things, people, positions, health, and stability that we thought were so important might be stripped away, so that we find our significance in God alone.
That is God's plan of welfare, not evil, a future and a hope.
As we find our satisfaction in Him alone, the idols which we thought were so important become insignificant. That gives us a future and a hope, good and not evil.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Take It Away!
Don't you sometimes wish that God would just take it away?
You know, whatever the "it" is in your life? Wouldn't it be easier if God would just miraculously reach down and snatch it away? Doesn't it make sense that a God who loves us would do that?
Maybe your "it" is a specific temptation.
Wouldn't it be easier if God changed us so that we truly only had eyes for our spouses?
Wouldn't it be easier if God took away the desire to stuff ourselves at each meal?
Wouldn't it be easier if God took away the craving for power that leads us to lie, cheat and steal?
Maybe your "it" is a specific person.
That demanding boss who gets on your nerves.
Those children who drive you crazy.
That spouse who lied to you again.
Maybe your "it" is a specific circumstance.
Unemployed.
Cancer.
Abused.
Alone.
Doesn't God see the pain that you're in? Doesn't God care? Doesn't God want to make it all better?
The answer to those questions is "Yes."
God does see. God does care. And God does want to make it all better.
But He does not always want to make it better by taking away the circumstances and people in our lives.
His purpose is much higher than that.
In the introductory chapters of Judges, God gives the purpose for the events which follow. When Israel was disobedient, they were defeated by enemies, just as God had promised. And those enemies would come in and lead the people of Israel astray, particularly in following after the foreign gods.
Wouldn't it have been easier for God to just wipe out all the enemies and put up a high wall around His people? It would have eliminated their access to foreign gods and ideas. They would have known nothing other than worship of Jehovah.
But God said, "I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way o the LORD as their fathers did, or not" (Judges 2:21-22).
One purpose of the people and circumstances in our lives is to test our obedience. It's easier to obey God when the fence is high and the options are limited. But God wants us to be obedient. Not because He is a tyrant, demanding obedience.
But because our obedience to Him shows our love to Him.
As we obey Him in the difficulties, our relationship to Him grows more intense.
It's easy to give up. Get a divorce. Change your job. Give in to temptation.
But if we love God, we will be obedient. We will work on our marriage. We will learn to trust God in the difficulties at work. We will fight temptation.
And that shows our love. That's what God wants.
You know, whatever the "it" is in your life? Wouldn't it be easier if God would just miraculously reach down and snatch it away? Doesn't it make sense that a God who loves us would do that?
Maybe your "it" is a specific temptation.
Wouldn't it be easier if God changed us so that we truly only had eyes for our spouses?
Wouldn't it be easier if God took away the desire to stuff ourselves at each meal?
Wouldn't it be easier if God took away the craving for power that leads us to lie, cheat and steal?
Maybe your "it" is a specific person.
That demanding boss who gets on your nerves.
Those children who drive you crazy.
That spouse who lied to you again.
Maybe your "it" is a specific circumstance.
Unemployed.
Cancer.
Abused.
Alone.
Doesn't God see the pain that you're in? Doesn't God care? Doesn't God want to make it all better?
The answer to those questions is "Yes."
God does see. God does care. And God does want to make it all better.
But He does not always want to make it better by taking away the circumstances and people in our lives.
His purpose is much higher than that.
In the introductory chapters of Judges, God gives the purpose for the events which follow. When Israel was disobedient, they were defeated by enemies, just as God had promised. And those enemies would come in and lead the people of Israel astray, particularly in following after the foreign gods.
Wouldn't it have been easier for God to just wipe out all the enemies and put up a high wall around His people? It would have eliminated their access to foreign gods and ideas. They would have known nothing other than worship of Jehovah.
But God said, "I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way o the LORD as their fathers did, or not" (Judges 2:21-22).
One purpose of the people and circumstances in our lives is to test our obedience. It's easier to obey God when the fence is high and the options are limited. But God wants us to be obedient. Not because He is a tyrant, demanding obedience.
But because our obedience to Him shows our love to Him.
As we obey Him in the difficulties, our relationship to Him grows more intense.
It's easy to give up. Get a divorce. Change your job. Give in to temptation.
But if we love God, we will be obedient. We will work on our marriage. We will learn to trust God in the difficulties at work. We will fight temptation.
And that shows our love. That's what God wants.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The Missing Chapter
Almost five years ago, I walked across the stage and received a Doctorate of Ministry. My project was the development of a spiritual growth program for men. I developed a week-long retreat that was to be integrated in the local church's ministry, held the retreat three different times to three different groups of men. Taught through the lessons two different times in our local church. Presented it writing to several for proofreading, evaluation and recommendations.
But I missed a whole chapter - at least.
I missed a chapter on the importance of confession and repentance. An admission of guilt and a turning from sin.
Three years ago, I heard a sermon on the demon-possessed man, who had spent years living in the tombs, unchained, unclothed and uncontrollable. No one would help him. No one could help him (Mark 5).
But then Jesus came.
Jesus came into this man's life and changed him in an instant. Jesus did what no one else could do.
Jesus changed this man's life forever. He is clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, wanting to go with Jesus.
When I realized that Jesus had changed this man's life, I called out to Him and called out to a friend to help me.
It hasn't been an instant change, like the demon-possessed man, but change has taken place.
It hasn't been an easy change. Over the last three years, I have walked through some difficult times. But I've never walked alone. Jesus has always been there. My friends have been there when I've called out to them. Sometimes they have walked beside me. Sometimes they have pushed me. Many times they have prayed for me.
But I'm thankful for God's grace in allowing me the opportunity to change. And I'm thankful for God's grace in giving me true friends who have helped me along the way.
And a major component of the change has been confession and repentance. As I confessed my sins, the burdens were lifted off my shoulders. As I let others look into my life, the fear of rejection faded. As I repented, turning from sinful choices of decades, I experienced victory over temptation like never before.
I'm thankful that I did the work for the doctoral project.
But I will have to add another chapter, if I teach it again.
And if you're stagnant in your spiritual growth, maybe unconfessed sin is holding you back.
God is gracious and ready to forgive. And you'll be surprised that there are others ready to help you.
But I missed a whole chapter - at least.
I missed a chapter on the importance of confession and repentance. An admission of guilt and a turning from sin.
Three years ago, I heard a sermon on the demon-possessed man, who had spent years living in the tombs, unchained, unclothed and uncontrollable. No one would help him. No one could help him (Mark 5).
But then Jesus came.
Jesus came into this man's life and changed him in an instant. Jesus did what no one else could do.
Jesus changed this man's life forever. He is clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, wanting to go with Jesus.
When I realized that Jesus had changed this man's life, I called out to Him and called out to a friend to help me.
It hasn't been an instant change, like the demon-possessed man, but change has taken place.
It hasn't been an easy change. Over the last three years, I have walked through some difficult times. But I've never walked alone. Jesus has always been there. My friends have been there when I've called out to them. Sometimes they have walked beside me. Sometimes they have pushed me. Many times they have prayed for me.
But I'm thankful for God's grace in allowing me the opportunity to change. And I'm thankful for God's grace in giving me true friends who have helped me along the way.
And a major component of the change has been confession and repentance. As I confessed my sins, the burdens were lifted off my shoulders. As I let others look into my life, the fear of rejection faded. As I repented, turning from sinful choices of decades, I experienced victory over temptation like never before.
I'm thankful that I did the work for the doctoral project.
But I will have to add another chapter, if I teach it again.
And if you're stagnant in your spiritual growth, maybe unconfessed sin is holding you back.
God is gracious and ready to forgive. And you'll be surprised that there are others ready to help you.
Monday, April 14, 2014
The Importance of Family, Feelings and Finances
I caught about 15 minutes of a sermon on the radio today, which fit into some passages upon which I had been meditating the last few days.
The passage of the sermon was 1 Corinthians 7:29-31:
"This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had not dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away."
This passage captures the main themes of books sold in Christian bookstores: family, feelings and finances.
Marriage, raising children, aging parents, empty nest, roles, sex education.
Depression, co-dependence, suicide, joy.
Debt, mortgages, investment, retirement.
Walk up and down the aisles of the local bookstore and that's what you'll find as topics that are filling the shelves. And an insider tip: if people weren't buying those books, the retailers wouldn't be putting them on their shelves.
So we are occupying our time and resources to learn about how to have a happy marriage, a fulfilling sex life and obedient children.
We fill our minds with how to overcome depression, be a joyful Christian, and grieve properly.
Then we attend seminars on financial peace, investment decisions and faith promise.
All the time, ignoring what Paul says here:
In light of eternity, live as if you don't have a family. They should not be the center of your universe. They should not be your source of joy. They should not be the standard of success.
In light of eternity, control your emotions. Don't waste time trying to evaluate them. They are a part of life, but they are not your life.
In light of eternity, don't be consumed by consumption. Don't look for satisfaction in what you have, but in Whom you have - and Who has you.
Why?
All of these things are fading away. Family, feelings and finances - you won't take them into eternity with you.
And they won't matter, even if you could.
The proper response is to find our satisfaction in Christ. To fill our time, spend our resources, pour our energy into knowing Christ.
As you learn to know Christ, realizing that you have everything that you need in Him, grasping that He alone will satisfy your real needs, family, feelings and finances will simply be family, feelings and finances.
They are no longer your driving force. They are no longer your source of joy. You are no longer driven by a sense of striving to please them.
Instead you find joy in Jesus. You live to please God.
And all of earth's treasures will fade away - and be replaced with the treasure beyond comparison that will endure throughout eternity: Jesus Christ.
The passage of the sermon was 1 Corinthians 7:29-31:
"This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had not dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away."
This passage captures the main themes of books sold in Christian bookstores: family, feelings and finances.
Marriage, raising children, aging parents, empty nest, roles, sex education.
Depression, co-dependence, suicide, joy.
Debt, mortgages, investment, retirement.
Walk up and down the aisles of the local bookstore and that's what you'll find as topics that are filling the shelves. And an insider tip: if people weren't buying those books, the retailers wouldn't be putting them on their shelves.
So we are occupying our time and resources to learn about how to have a happy marriage, a fulfilling sex life and obedient children.
We fill our minds with how to overcome depression, be a joyful Christian, and grieve properly.
Then we attend seminars on financial peace, investment decisions and faith promise.
All the time, ignoring what Paul says here:
In light of eternity, live as if you don't have a family. They should not be the center of your universe. They should not be your source of joy. They should not be the standard of success.
In light of eternity, control your emotions. Don't waste time trying to evaluate them. They are a part of life, but they are not your life.
In light of eternity, don't be consumed by consumption. Don't look for satisfaction in what you have, but in Whom you have - and Who has you.
Why?
All of these things are fading away. Family, feelings and finances - you won't take them into eternity with you.
And they won't matter, even if you could.
The proper response is to find our satisfaction in Christ. To fill our time, spend our resources, pour our energy into knowing Christ.
As you learn to know Christ, realizing that you have everything that you need in Him, grasping that He alone will satisfy your real needs, family, feelings and finances will simply be family, feelings and finances.
They are no longer your driving force. They are no longer your source of joy. You are no longer driven by a sense of striving to please them.
Instead you find joy in Jesus. You live to please God.
And all of earth's treasures will fade away - and be replaced with the treasure beyond comparison that will endure throughout eternity: Jesus Christ.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Promised Victory
During the conquest of the land, the kings of northern Canaan banded together to fight against Joshua and his troops.
The army was immense. "...like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots" (Joshua 11:4).
It must have seemed like an impossibility to Joshua, because the LORD comes to encourage him. "Do not be afraid of them for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel" (v 6).
But they still had to fight.
Some battles are recorded in the history of Israel where the enemy killed each other in the night, or an angel wiped them out, or they fled in fear.
But not this one.
The next morning, Joshua and his soldiers pursued this enormous army, not leaving anyone alive.
All the horses were hamstrung. All the chariots were burned.
Think of all the physical exertion. Think of all the blood. Think of the mess they had to clean up over the next days.
God promised victory, but they still had to fight. The Israelite soldiers must have been sweaty, dirty and tired at the end of the day.
They were victorious, but it had taken great effort on their part.
The same is true in our battles against temptation.
Think of all the commands in the New Testament about how to live the Christian life.
Flee temptation.
Love your wife.
Submit to your husband.
Obey your parents.
Support the widows.
Work with your hands.
Don't be angry, vengeful, or bitter.
Don't gossip, slander, or lie.
And on and on.
Those are all commands. And God promises us victory. But we have to fight.
We'd like God to just make all of that easy. But if He did, we would soon learn that we don't need Him.
God promises victory, a way of escape from every temptation. He promises strength, so that we can endure, work hard, bear up under temptation (1 Cor 10:13).
Giving in to temptation is the easy way out. But it means certain defeat. If Joshua and the army had simply waited, the immense army would have run them over. They went out and fought, claiming God's promise of victory.
They came back bloody, dirty and tired. But victorious!
The army was immense. "...like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots" (Joshua 11:4).
It must have seemed like an impossibility to Joshua, because the LORD comes to encourage him. "Do not be afraid of them for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel" (v 6).
But they still had to fight.
Some battles are recorded in the history of Israel where the enemy killed each other in the night, or an angel wiped them out, or they fled in fear.
But not this one.
The next morning, Joshua and his soldiers pursued this enormous army, not leaving anyone alive.
All the horses were hamstrung. All the chariots were burned.
Think of all the physical exertion. Think of all the blood. Think of the mess they had to clean up over the next days.
God promised victory, but they still had to fight. The Israelite soldiers must have been sweaty, dirty and tired at the end of the day.
They were victorious, but it had taken great effort on their part.
The same is true in our battles against temptation.
Think of all the commands in the New Testament about how to live the Christian life.
Flee temptation.
Love your wife.
Submit to your husband.
Obey your parents.
Support the widows.
Work with your hands.
Don't be angry, vengeful, or bitter.
Don't gossip, slander, or lie.
And on and on.
Those are all commands. And God promises us victory. But we have to fight.
We'd like God to just make all of that easy. But if He did, we would soon learn that we don't need Him.
God promises victory, a way of escape from every temptation. He promises strength, so that we can endure, work hard, bear up under temptation (1 Cor 10:13).
Giving in to temptation is the easy way out. But it means certain defeat. If Joshua and the army had simply waited, the immense army would have run them over. They went out and fought, claiming God's promise of victory.
They came back bloody, dirty and tired. But victorious!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Ministering to Christians with Same Sex Attraction
Hardly a day goes by without some reference in the media, or in conversations around the water cooler, about homosexuality.
We hear it so much that we probably don't even notice the commercials that are promoting an acceptance of this lifestyle.
Usually born-again believers will get up in arms. Churches stand against this sexual behavior.
But what about the people in the pew who are struggling?
What about the men and women who come into the church, knowing that their desires are sinful and wanting help?
Do they find the help and support for which they long?
Or is your church missing out on an opportunity to help these people grow?
Dan Bartlett posted an encouraging and helpful blog about Ministering to Christians with Same Sex Attraction.
It's concise, but thorough.
It's biblical and gospel-centered teaching.
It's practical and encouraging.
We hear it so much that we probably don't even notice the commercials that are promoting an acceptance of this lifestyle.
Usually born-again believers will get up in arms. Churches stand against this sexual behavior.
But what about the people in the pew who are struggling?
What about the men and women who come into the church, knowing that their desires are sinful and wanting help?
Do they find the help and support for which they long?
Or is your church missing out on an opportunity to help these people grow?
Dan Bartlett posted an encouraging and helpful blog about Ministering to Christians with Same Sex Attraction.
It's concise, but thorough.
It's biblical and gospel-centered teaching.
It's practical and encouraging.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
We've Got it Better
Adam, Abel, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.
What do these people have in common?
They are all listed in the "Hall of Faith," Hebrews 11.
Usually when we read that list, we're reminded of the accounts that we learned as a child in Sunday School.
These men and women had great faith in a great God and acted accordingly. God did great things for them and through them because of their faith.
The application is usually, "If you have more faith, God will use you."
That is true and found in other passages of the Bible as well.
But I think we often overlook the last two verses of Hebrews 11:
"And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (v 39-40).
They had great faith in a great God, but they didn't receive the promise. They were looking forward to something else. If you go back and read Hebrews 11, you'll see that anticipation.
They didn't receive the promise - but we did!
What we have in Christ is much greater than the mighty miracles which God performed through these men and women of faith.
Greater than Abraham and Sarah having a son in their old age.
Greater than the crossing of the Red Sea.
Greater than David killing Goliath.
Greater than the strength of Samson.
So why do we live like we are paupers of faith?
God has given us much more than these great heroes ever received.
We have the power of the resurrection, the hope of eternal life, victory over temptation, comfort in times of trial - and Jesus Christ Himself.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Asking for Help
The struggle with on-going sin in the life of a believer is obvious.
I know that I have sins in my life that need to be rooted out.
You know that I have sins in my life.
I know that you have sins in your life.
Like the Geico commercial: "Everybody knows that."
Yet when we come together it's easier to talk about the weather, work, activities, family, other people - anything but our sins and temptations.
We'll easily talk about our aches and pains, but not our spiritual health.
But at the same time we long for someone to come alongside of us and to help us. We want help to gain victory, but we don't want to open up.
We want someone to practice Galatians 6:1-2 with us.
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
We ache for someone to bear our burdens, but we aren't willing to let anyone know what they are.
The help then comes after we've fallen. After we've crashed and burned. Everything has fallen apart and our sin is exposed.
Why is that?
Fear of rejection. Fear of abandonment. Fear of man.
Rather than calling out to God and to our spiritual brothers, we fight alone.
We live in the sin of unbelief, because we don't take God at His word.
We make no progress, because we're afraid of what others will think about us.
We remain trapped, because we don't want to reach out to the life ring that has been thrown to us.
What do we need to do?
Humble ourselves. Confess sin. Ask for help.
Victory is possible, but none of us can do it alone.
I know that I have sins in my life that need to be rooted out.
You know that I have sins in my life.
I know that you have sins in your life.
Like the Geico commercial: "Everybody knows that."
Yet when we come together it's easier to talk about the weather, work, activities, family, other people - anything but our sins and temptations.
We'll easily talk about our aches and pains, but not our spiritual health.
But at the same time we long for someone to come alongside of us and to help us. We want help to gain victory, but we don't want to open up.
We want someone to practice Galatians 6:1-2 with us.
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
We ache for someone to bear our burdens, but we aren't willing to let anyone know what they are.
The help then comes after we've fallen. After we've crashed and burned. Everything has fallen apart and our sin is exposed.
Why is that?
Fear of rejection. Fear of abandonment. Fear of man.
Rather than calling out to God and to our spiritual brothers, we fight alone.
We live in the sin of unbelief, because we don't take God at His word.
We make no progress, because we're afraid of what others will think about us.
We remain trapped, because we don't want to reach out to the life ring that has been thrown to us.
What do we need to do?
Humble ourselves. Confess sin. Ask for help.
Victory is possible, but none of us can do it alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)