Gratitude for Unity

Yesterday our church held a Heritage Festival for the second year. Nineteen different cultures each had a table with items and food that represented their country of birth. Each host wore the clothing and served all sorts of savory treats from soup to desserts. Some had candy, or pins, or bookmarks. Others had contests and gave out prizes. This was not a fund-raiser but a celebration to demonstrate the ‘unity in diversity’ that Jesus brings to the people of the world and a taste of our eternal life together. . . .  

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)

This festival gave me many reasons to rejoice. The first person I talked to was a woman I’ve not seen for sixty years. Her son brought her. He lives and works nearby but grew up in across the street from us in another city. He and his family were not Christians and did not attend church, but that son, who spent much time in our home, is now a joy-filled believer, along with his wife and children.

The youth who hosted the Scotland display was uptight and insecure last year, but this time he was confident and greeted people with grace and humor. He expressed awareness of the change in himself.

A family whose children call us grandparents could not attend last year, but this year they hosted the Pakistan table and several people said it was the best food. Lots of smiles and long lineups at that one!

Will heaven be like this? People loving and serving one another? Good food and much joy? I don’t know, but I’m sure that this event gave everyone a taste of how Jesus can change relationships, not just among friends and neighbors, but with those who are different from one another in most ways except that we all love Him.

The flags (hundreds of small ones strung on cords overhead) may still be up this morning. I’d like to see them up all the time. We have nearly 40 cultural groups in our church, and if this has the same effect as it did last year, the sense of family will be even stronger. The love of God changes lives, just as Jesus prayed:

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:20–23)

While not advertised except by word of mouth, the goal of this festival is not only to welcome the diversity among us, but to demonstrate the oneness Jesus creates. Our desire is that many who are not yet part of His Body will believe that God sent His Son and that He loves all people. This Savior is for every language, color and culture. A boy sang in Ukrainian. A Chinese girl danced. We praised God together and today I continue to feel the deep joy of the Lord.

PRAY: Jesus, events like this one show the world Your power to bring unity. It deepens my desire to pray for peace among nations yet I know that this does not happen with treaties, alliances, or human methods. It is You who can  bring people together, as far as the east is from the west, from the tropics to the coldest nations. Your love and grace break down barriers and builds up peace and joy in Your name. For this, I am so grateful!

 

Focus on Good News. . . .

A family member sent me an email last week that lines up with Piper’s devotional passage for today. His email said “Can’t help but feel the effects of the last days described in 2 Tim 3:1-5. I’m sure you feel the same. Very hard to watch the news these days… I am reminded to keep focused on the Good News that will help soften that bad news around us.”

He also said that it was not his place to say when the end would come. However, this passage does describe much of current news:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:1–5)

I’m with him on focusing on the Good News. Piper didn’t do that at first. Instead he gave statistics that are three decades old and make me shudder. Men abuse women. Many abuse the police. Murder rates are high. Mocking Jesus happens and still does. Mass shootings, people driving vehicles into crowds, brutality and lack of self-control. It is all part of current world events including the abandoning of God both in public and in private.

But there is good news too. In our city, large shelters feed and take care of the homeless. The love of Jesus is taken to the streets by those who build relationships with those who feel helpless. Many groups take care of needy families with new babies. Others supply beds for children who have none. Several offer help and shelter for women who are in danger.

God calls His people to avoid those described by the above bad news. I could finger-point and shake my head in disgust at each newscast with the vanity that “at least I’m not like that” but my sin is just as disgusting to God as their evil behavior. Instead, He challenges me with verses like this:

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. (Ephesians 5:3–12)

The Lord does not want me to do such things, and not even talk about what they do. Instead, He tells me, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:26–27)

What is more challenging than to control what I say? Maybe to change my thoughts? Maybe to be occupied with doing good instead of bad-mouthing those without Christ who are helpless to do anything that pleases God? Maybe to show other Christians how to have a relationship with those who hit the news for the wrong reasons? To pay attention to words like:

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:16–21)

PRAY: Jesus, evil is not overcome by more evil, particularly the vanity of thinking I’m better than those involved in sin — and neglecting to glorify You as the only reason for anything good in me. You died for the world — while we were still sinners — and everyone needs to know You and Your incredible love, sacrificed to deliver us from sin’s deadly bondage.

 

Too many birthdays?

My Dad used to explain his mental and physical problems with “I’ve had too many birthdays.” He was 90 when he died. Now at my age I sometimes say the same thing, particularly as I read challenges such as “Do you have zeal for a worthy cause? Is there some good for which you are being slandered? Or is your routine so harmless in this evil world that it fits nicely with the way things are going, and so nobody is asking you anything?”

Yes, I know that Moses didn’t get started until he was 80 and that God can renew the strength of those who wait on Him…

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28–31)

The Bible says He can. My faith says He can. Yet this is not gold-stamped with a seal to make it certain. Many days I feel faint and without strength, asking for renewal. Over my desk is a painting of eagles with a reference:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1–5)

Because I appear to be younger, expectations from others are higher than the way I feel. I don’t want ‘renewed youth’ to meet those expectations, but I do want to have what is needed to do what God asks of me, even on those days when it feels like I’ve had way too many birthdays.

Others verses echo the cries of those with white hair and bodies that no longer cooperate with ambition, or even wipe it out:

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. (Psalm 71:9)
O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? (Psalm 71:17–19)
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. (Psalm 92:12–15)

The Bible shows that the average lifespan in OT times was less than my age now. We live in a country whose average now is lower than my age also. How true what Moses wrote:

For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:9–10)

And how true what my hubby often says; we are all terminal. A friend told us of his sister’s death last week. She was getting ready to go somewhere with her spouse, and put on one shoe, then left this earth. Some die violently, or because of a painful illness, or an accident. We don’t get to choose (despite efforts to make it lawful) but even so, it still happens. Best option:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

PRAY: Jesus, no matter my age, afternoon fatigue, or all other ‘symptoms’ of being old, eternal life began the moment You called me into a personal relationship with You, a relationship that changed my life here and my destiny when this life is over. This love affair with You makes such a difference in the way I look at too many birthdays!

“Never mind about others, you follow Me. . . .”

Years ago the pastor of a church we attended resigned. The congregation was upset, but he gave no reason. Their speculations were mostly unfair and painful for him. But when I asked, he told me that “God told me to.” He left, not to ‘bigger and better’ things, but in obedience and without a plan for the next thing.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you… So Abram went, as the Lord had told him… (Genesis 12:1–4)

Abraham is praised for his faith, but this pastor was criticized for his. Today’s reading in Piper’s devotional reminds me of the way even Christians will decide how other Christians should be serving God. At times, their ‘suggestions’ can be from the Lord, but if not, they might be confusing and even hurtful.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:14–17)

After a brief look at the meaning of righteousness, it is “doing what God requires” and with this pastor in mind, I wondered if the hurtful speculation and resulting accusations could be called a mild form of persecution. I also wondered if doing nothing is sometimes criticized.
By that, if God was asking me to wait, or not giving a direct command, or not leading me to any particular ministry, and others criticized my lack of action, could that also be a form of persecution? Peter called it “revile your good behavior in Christ” and that “good” could mean I am waiting on the Lord, without any assumption from my old nature to assume I should do this or that. Serving God should always include waiting on the Holy Spirit to give His leading.

Another possibility is that when following the Holy Spirit, I’m not examining my life at all. When others thank me for what I did, I’m thinking “what are they talking about?” because walking in the Spirit means self-awareness is vague, or absent, or not important.

Besides that, serving the Lord is not always about doing the same thing as someone else. I’ve noted how evangelists stress how all Christians should be evangelists, missionaries want everyone involved in missions, etc.

Nor does obedience mean trying to do all the work that needs to be done. Preach, teach, lead, give, counsel, wait on tables, visitation, or does it mean listening for the specific job God wants for me this time and this day? Yesterday it was communication with a family member, bake pies for my hubby, and ask an estimator a question unrelated to his work and getting a surprising answer that blessed me immensely. Today, the Lord asks me to pray with others, and who knows what He will tell me to do after that. I only know that I need to keep listening and doing what He says. The NT says “some plant and others water” — without defining how those things are done, or by who.

PRAY: Jesus, when I look at You and think of my responsibility to follow in Your footsteps, You knew the future and where those steps would take You. I don’t. I can make plans, yet know that “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) One phone call, or a knock at the door, or an email, or many other events could take me a different way than my plan. You have been teaching me these last few months to listen to You by using dozens of unexpected events. Many of those ‘interruptions’ turned into opportunities to glorify You. It does not matter if others do not hear what You tell me, as long as I hear it and do what You say. Enable me to listen, and also to never assume I know what You are telling them, and remember that Your life was filled with interruptions.

Grace under fire?

In regard to yesterday’s thoughts, God gave me an idea of how I can ‘visit’ orphans in Brazil or other places by using technology. Only two issues: the recipients must also have the same technology, and we must both speak the same language. I’ve sent this idea to a mission in Brazil and I am waiting for their response.

In the meantime, Piper’s devotional raises a question: Is zeal for doing good praised or persecuted? He points to this passage:

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:13–16)

This reminds me of the playground ditty, “My Dad is bigger than your dad” sometimes used to challenge attackers. If someone is critical of what I do in obedience to Jesus, He will defend me, or at least bless me. I’m not to be afraid or even troubled by any opposition. Key is not my feelings about criticism but what I do about it. Imaginary conversation:

“What is the reason you are doing that? What good will it do?”

“I’m not sure. I only know that Jesus is able to use small offerings, such as five loaves and two fish, to bless a great number of people. I’ve no idea what He will do with what I’m doing. I just know that He prompted the idea, not me. I have no special skill or insight into His plan, only that He wants this done.”

While my imagination gives me a sense of what Jesus wants when I am questioned or doubted, He does make another promise:

Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10:17–20)

Piper talks about future grace and this is a good example. God gives me what I need when I need it, not before. This means I have no need to plan my conversations or try to figure out what to say ahead of time. These verses are not about ‘sermon preparation’ or ‘lesson planning’ but about those times when my hope in Christ is challenged, either verbally or with extreme persecution.

Where I live, the legal system prevents others from tossing Christians in jail for their faith. However, we know people from other countries where the legal system did the tossing. They testify to the power of God who kept them at peace even when they could not speak to defend themselves. Their testimonies demonstrate that God is bigger than any threat that I might ever face.

PRAY: Jesus, whether I see Your great power in the lives of others, or someday need that same power in my own life, You are faithful to keep Your promise to be my Rock and Defender, also my source to do good and use my voice to speak with gentleness and respect, even when abused and treated harshly. Thank You for such great grace.

Visit them. . . .

Today’s reading distresses me so much that writing about it is almost impossible. Piper’s book was written more than thirty years ago. Are these stats better now? Or worse? He says:

There are an estimated twelve million homeless children on the streets of Brazil. Their parents lost them in the crowds, put them out, died. However they got there, they are there. They beg, they steal, they sell their bodies. They eat garbage. Some policemen and others moonlight by contracting to kill street children so that they will not menace the city. In 1992 an average of four hundred of these children were killed monthly in Brazil. It’s the same in other big cities. The Philippine government estimates that there are fifteen thousand child prostitutes in Manila between the ages of nine and twelve. One estimate suggests that in Thailand there are eight hundred thousand girls between twelve and sixteen years old involved in prostitution.

Google AI says the numbers in Brazil are about 7 million homeless children, 250,000 to 1 million others in Manila, and at least 20,000 without hope and enslaved in Thailand’s major cities. Even if these numbers are exaggerated, what are God’s people doing about it? The Bible says:

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

Physically visit them? I cannot do that for these shunned and hunted orphans. We have widows in our large complex that I can visit, yet my heart hurts to think of so many children in such dire straits. Our church points to organizations that target rescuing these kids. They include: Chain of Love and International Justice Mission, yet the most an average person can do is pray and send money. Prayer puts the burden in God's hands and money provides the resources needed. Both are better than nothing, yet the implication in the Word of God is to doing something more personal. Jesus would and can.

Unstained from the world seems not connected to visiting needy people. However, the world is defined in another passage:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)

Summed up, loving the world is being so involved in what I can gain from life that I have no desire and no time nor reason for helping others have a life that matters. And isn’t that what God wills for me? For those kids?

PRAY: Father, my heart hurts. I can send money. I can visit a few widows. I try to keep worldly desires out of my motivations and actions. It seems so little compared to the size of this problem. I know You are powerful and merciful. What do you want from me in regard to this incredible need?

Who is doing the work?

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

This interesting NT passage begs the question: what is my part in doing the work and what is God's part? How do I know for certain that God is working in me? The answer may be obvious to some, but there are other verses that make this question more complicated.

Another passage from the OT quotes the people asking God a question and then His response. They said, “Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?” God answers:

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? (Isaiah 58:3–5)

They were going through the motions so it looked like obedience, but God could see the motivation of their hearts. Their fasting was useless, even harmful.

I’ve tried to illustrate this with taking a pie to a new neighbor. I could be truly wanting to welcome this person and demonstrate the love of God, or I could be seeking a compliment on my pie-baking skills. However, the last time I said this, those listening tried to make my selfish reason a virtue! They did not see it as God saw the fast described in Isaiah 58:3. Were they blind to the subtlety of walking in the flesh that is intent on glorifying self?

God’s grace is a gift that enables us to do His will. It is like the hand in a glove. We do the work, but He supplies the will and the ability. This should make me say things like:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Colossians 1:29)
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18–19)

God wants me to press on by grace and in the motivation and power of the Holy Spirit, not according to my flesh, whether the latter is overtly selfish or hides that motivation under a pious pretension. I am not to think highly of myself but be content and even glory in my weaknesses that His power may rest on me. In other words, being Spirit-filled and enabled may mean that I am not even aware of His power. Only others will see Him because He is my focus.

PRAY: Jesus, faith is conviction about what I cannot see, not a vision or focus on what I want or how I am performing. It is a deep desire for Your will to be done, along with the understanding of my great need for grace. Apart from You, this glove is totally useless.

 

My efforts vs. God’s enabling

 
In our small group Bible study, my focus is often on the flesh vs. spirit issue but received as if I’m saying we don’t do anything — all of our obedience is God’s doing. But I’ve not made clear that there are two “we’s” in the discussion. The flesh is dead and useless. To obey God, I must be walking in the Spirit, not the flesh which is my old nature. The problem is that I have not been clarifying which “we” is helpless and which is able to obey.

Another confusion is that many Christians do not recognize when the flesh is at work (even though it is dead to God) or what being filled with the Spirit is like. Many do not want to examine their motivations but it seems vital to me that I know why I do what I am doing.

Today’s reading begins with a question about pursuing faith. Since it is a gift from God, do i try to increase it? As with anything else He grants, I cannot make it happen without faith or by my human efforts, but God is eager to enable me to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” so that He is glorified “both now and to the day of eternity.” (2 Peter 3:18) Certainly faith is a gift from God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Romans 12:3)
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake… (Philippians 1:29)

Other verses show that faith is granted to us by a revelation to our hearts. That is, He makes it possible for me to believe. This is also a gift as Jesus told Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17) Otherwise, flesh remains in darkness. We need the gift of new life and the light from God which He shines “in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Even though faith is a gift, the Bible says it needs to grow so I am trusting Him all the time. What is true for salvation — “faith comes from hearing through the word of Christ” — is also true after that new life comes. Being in the Word, spending time with Jesus and with His Body, and obeying Him are important, yet also must be activities of the new nature. The flesh can go through the motions but is not the way to build faith or express it. If I do anything, even what seems like ‘good works’ I am not honoring God nor producing fruit without His enabling.

So faith is about walking in the Spirit, not the flesh, and about glorifying God and not doing things to make the old nature feel good or be praiseworthy. I now see when I talk about being useless, I need to better clarify that all that talk is about the old me — and my flesh needs to be ignored. The new nature listens to God and obeys. This means that I need to be able to discern which is which. The old nature wants to rule things and can imitate or fake godliness and render my actions useless to serve or honor God.

PRAY: Jesus, Thank You for clarifying how to better explain when I make comments about passages like John 15:1-5 or 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 and how ‘I’ am useless yet I can do all things through Christ. Most Christians tend to be unaware of the flesh-spirit conflict because they have not recognized the differences or do not want to admit how the flesh messes with their faith. You want me to be clear about my battles so all of us are better at walking in Your Spirit and enable to do so by Your amazing grace.

Living for Jesus is not a payback

Today’s reading gives more reasons why I should never consider that my obedience is paying  God back for all He has done for me. Even if I could do it, I would be turning grace into a business transaction. If I could pay him back, my salvation could not be by grace. Grace is a free gift.

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. (Romans 4:4)

I might do this trade thing when someone invites us for dinner and I want to return the favor and pay them back. Feeling obligated nullifies their gracious gift. God does not ask for that response to His gracious gift. Instead, I am to “praise his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. . . . so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. . . . who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:6-14)

Piper also points out that focusing on gratitude as an empowerment for obedience tends to overlook the crucial importance of future grace. In other words, gratitude looks back to grace received in the past and feels thankful. However, faith looks forward to grace promised in the future and feels hopeful.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Trusting God for the future strengthens my obedience. It is confidence in what God will do. Past grace builds confidence for that future that is not seen, but paying Him back turns grace into a trade. Instead, my obedience must come from trusting Him for more grace. This trust honors His promises and His power so I can say with Paul:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

His trust was in God's promises, as did Joshua who heard God say: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) This man then obeyed and moved as God directed and empowered him to move ahead.

God promises me what I need. I trusted Him on His past performance and faith gives me courage to trust Him for future needs. I am not to do the payback thing as reason for obedience but instead honor His promises to lead me and give me whatever I need for what He may ask me to do:

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

PRAY: I never know what each day brings, but I do know that You can enable me to follow Your lead and do Your will, not only because of past grace, but because of Your promises. Trusting You is vital. Thanking You is also vital. Trying to pay You back for all that You have done is an exercise in futility.

Repay? Or be Thankful?

A friend shared that she struggles to be thankful. She explains that years of being cared for by God without a great deal of stress seems to cause her to take His care for granted. We are supposed to be thankful. It is part of worship and my friend agrees with verses like these:

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

That said, I was a bit surprised at the first line in today’s devotional reading: “Gratitude is a joyful emotion for worship but a dangerous motive for obedience.” Piper adds, “How can we not be thankful when we owe everything to God?”

He went on to explain that gratitude is a dangerous motive for obedience as it tends to be expressed in debtor’s terms like, “God has done so much for me… I owe Him everything…” But is that possible? How could anyone pay Him back for the grace He has given us?

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:35–36)

It is impossible because all we have already belongs to Him. Do I think of my life and possessions that way? I cannot even take another breath — being alive is his gift. Having a comfortable home, and a remarkable church and church family, and children and their children, and abilities and all else is because of God’s goodness. All belongs to Him ad well. I’ve only my gratitude.

Lately becoming aware of helplessness and weakness without Him, and aware that all strength to do His will is due to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes Christians say, “I did this for God” or “You need to obey Him” as if they do not understand what Jesus said:

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:3–5)

This is clear, and even the abiding is His work because apart from Him I cannot abide or would not want to. Like those who resist all that God requires, unless I’m filled with the Spirit of God and yielded to His leading, I am just like them. How can I pay anything back to God unless He does His work in my heart? And even then, it is never enough.

One thought: I do owe love to God and to others, yet even being able to love is also a gift by grace, meaning we do not earn or deserve it or payback God for it…

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7–12)

PRAY: Jesus, I’ve never thought about paying You back. It sounds too much like arrogance, as if I have the ability and means in myself to do it. Keep me from having a wrong motive pressing me into anything but loving obedience.

Knowing God

Last night’s group study topic was the prayer of Jesus that begins:

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:1–3)

Our study leader asked about this definition of eternal life that Jesus describes. We agreed that Jesus described a relationship. It is not the same as knowing about Him, or even knowing that He is God who came in the form of a man, or even believing in one God, or perhaps that He is three in one because the Bible also says:

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2:19)

Knowledge of facts about God and accepting those facts as true does not necessarily result in trust or an intimate relationship. In this context and in considering all that the Bible says about faith in Christ, it is deeper. Jesus used the Greek word ginōskō that means to know, recognize, discern, understand; conclude, but is also a euphemism for the intimacy of sexual relations. In other words, while this verb can refer to knowledge of facts or information, it is used more often to refer to a deeper knowledge that involves intimacy.

Intimacy of relationship involves love but also self-revelation, an openness that includes inner thoughts revealed by transparent and truth-filled interaction and conversation. Not only that, this prayer seems more of a description of what eternal life is like rather than how it is obtained. By knowing Jesus as Lord, Savior, best friend forever, we have a relationship of mutual confiding, of intimate knowledge as Jesus reveals Himself to us.

Before Jesus came into my life, I knew about Him, about His life and the importance of trusting Him (but not how to do it) but I did not have that relationship. However, He came to me without a formal introduction, and I knew instantly who He is and that He was offering me His life and all He could do for me. There was no doubt about His identity or His worth. Rejecting Him never entered my mind. Life events and the Holy Spirit had already made the point: I needed Jesus.

Most Christian’s testify how they came to a point of need through life’s circumstances. For me, it was a sense of failure. For some it is deep guilt, or rejection. Others feel surprised by Jesus and later realized they were ready to say yes when He called them.

While some talk about needing to “accept” Him vs. the ability to reject Jesus, that can only be prior to hearing His call to relationship. People will reject church, or what seems like law and rules, or say they don’t need religion, or bristle at the idea of being a sinner. The Holy Spirit’s role is to use various means to remove any barriers and soften hearts to the point that sinners are ready to trust His power and say yes to His invitation.

PRAY: Jesus, You never force anyone to trust You, nor are You are helpless to draw sinners to Yourself. Your love and Your ability to reveal Yourself as desirable is unlimited. You are the grace of God reaching out and revealing God to those being called. You overwhelm me with Your goodness and mercy. The more I know You, the more I know what God the Father is like, and what eternal life is like. Since You are beyond all description and human imagination, eternity will be filled with discovery — forever knowing more and more about You. This is a marvelous reality given to me because that is what You do.

Embracing the Pain

Yesterday I wrote about Monday’s battle with unexplained despair, with feeling as if God had abandoned me and would never return. This came after reading how the words of despair expressed by Christians who know better can be blurted out but are not an expression of their hearts. Job called them words of wind, and even though he blurted out to his critical and accusing friends his frustration with the silence of God, he also said:

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (Job 23:10)

At times an open and honest Christian can sound schizophrenic. The NT describes this in several places as the battle between the old flesh (which is dead to God’s ways) and the Holy Spirit who now lives in our hearts. If the Spirit is filling that person, godliness and truth rule their life and mouth, but sometimes the world and our demonic enemies hit us with some sort of painful thought or event that knock us back into thinking old ways. When that happens, the flesh is ‘shoved’ into old philosophies and lies, the chief one being, “God doesn’t love you” or some variation that contradicts the truth we have received from the Lord.

That was my Monday. Getting kicked in the heart was mostly an internal thing but related to sad news that deeply wounded me. I wanted to escape to heaven where there is no pain. And God was silent.

The other issue, strangely enough, was a challenge to be a story-teller who openly shared struggles and God’s work with others. I knew I had not done this with certain people so decided it was time — but decisions like that often bring on something to make me forget or ignore my determination. This is similar to what happens to pastors after a good sermon on Sunday; Monday becomes the worst day of the week.

But on Tuesday I read more about Job’s words and thought more about the importance of sharing life with others. The Spirit kept telling me that when someone else is in despair, to consider the source. Instead of rebuking their words, toss that idea to the wind and uncover their true beliefs, helping them to speak what is behind their struggle and then say what they really believe. When Monday put me on that other side with a dose of desperation and despair. I realized this was God’s way of showing me how badly others feel when life hands them lemons and the Spirit seems to leave… and I knew He did this to better equip me for doing what He wants me to do.

The story-telling theme hit too. Combining both lessons, I told someone else of my struggles and what I was learning. As soon as I did, the despair lifted. His joy flooded my heart, and the battle was over. I shared that too, not knowing what my listener thought about my ‘story-telling’ but realizing God wanted this transparency. Like Job, words of wind combined with golden truth went far deeper than the awful feelings that had me in a dark hole.
Today, several verses tell me this experience is important:

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

It was a test, not a temptation, even though wanting to die seemed like a real desire. What did God want me to do with that? Share it, not worried what my listener might think about this blatant loss of faith.

Then this:

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:16–22)

“Share also the results…” which can only be done if I obey what I have learned. Tell it to others and do what God says. Checking off a box is not enough. Job didn’t get fully off the flesh stuff until God taught him how little he knew about God’s ways, but eventually he understood and was blessed. For me, joy was a blessing and the rest of the day was blessed too.

PRAY: Years ago, a pastor told me I got tough lessons because I was a tough case. That I understand now more than ever. But You are a persistent Savior for which I am glad. If a 2x4 works better than a kind word, then help me to embrace the pain and learn what is needed to keep on track.

Truth and Everlasting Joy

Yesterday was awful. Physical movement was difficult. Mentally, my thoughts were jumbled. It was not some sort of illness, more like a spiritual war in which the enemy had me in the dirt with his foot on my neck.

I wrote of despair and could not escape it. The words were true but so true also was human helplessness. Whatever God wanted me to learn also escaped me. I wanted to leave this place and go to the promised land of no more sorrow. When night fell, I took two Tylenol and fell asleep instantly. No crazy dreams. No trips to the bathroom. This morning, Monday seemed far away.

Today’s devotions are about enduring pain. It refers to the pain of a flawed marriage and how that endurance helped in other areas of life. But there are other kinds of pain. Loss of abilities. Loss of friends. Loved ones dying. Physical aches. Dementia. Feeling unwanted. A long list.
To His OT people who were barren in the fruit of their calling, God compares them to a widow who lost her partner. He says:

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:4–8)

When despair hits, regardless of the reason or cause, God assured His people that His compassion would win over the horrid sense they had of being abandoned. He promised to “gather them” and this is affirmed even in the NT. God is not done with Israel, no matter how it seems in history and in current news.

In this, I can take comfort. Truth and trust does that. Truth gives me where to put my hope and in whom to put my trust. God has always kept His Word, so no despair can change that. It might knock me to the floor now and then, but the bottom line truth is this:

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:32–39)

My body still feels ‘not good’ but the truth lifts my spirits and tells me that my Maker can remake it. But if it stays like this, He can fill me with His joy anyway. My friends at church are proof of that!

PRAY: God, I thank You for examples of faith that give me hope when the enemy thinks he is winning, friends like BT, JM, L & A, and DD who ignore what their body yells at them and instead listen to the truth You have put deep into their hearts. That ‘surgery’ is not without pain, but it does the job of releasing Your everlasting joy.

Discerning hearts. . . .

God amazes me. I’ve read this verse at least a dozen times without much thought, but yesterday could not get it out of my mind:

Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? (Job 6:26)

Today’s thoughts from Piper’s book are so important. He says, “How quickly we are given to defending God—or sometimes the truth—from words that are for the wind alone. There are enough words, premeditated and studied, that need our rebuttal, but not every despairing  heresy blurted out in the hour of agony needs to be answered. If we had discernment, we could tell the difference between the words with roots and the words blowing in the wind.”

He goes on to explain that some words have deep-rooted error and deep evil, but not all words get their color from a black heart. Some are colored mainly by pain and despair that happens when the trials of life overshadow the grace we know and believe. This means that what I hear (or even say myself) is not from the deepest truth that is known and believed. As Piper says, these words are “real but temporary like a passing infection, but not the true heart of those who know God.”

These thoughts prompted by Job’s words tell me the importance of discernment. If another Christian speaks against me, or God, or the truth, I need to discern if they are “from the soul or from the sore.” If they are words for the wind, then a reproof is even more hurtful. I should wait in silence and if God’s Spirit requires a response, it will be to restore the soul, not throw salt in the wound. This is the way of speaking truth in love…

…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:12–16)

The goal is not to be ‘correct’ but to build up the faith of any who are tossed about by deceitful words or ideas that put them in panic mode.

PRAY: This reminds why the Word of God often calls His people sheep. These animals are easily frightened and need the calm voice of their shepherd to settle them. I may panic if events appear to be Satan winning when I know very well that he has already been defeated. No wonder You sent the Spirit to remind Your people of all that You promised and have secured for us — we so easily forget what we are in capable hands and that You use all things, including trials and the occasional rebuke to graciously transform us into Your image.

Dealing with despair?

Piper begins today’s meditation with a comment that words do not always reveal the heart. He points to a verse spoken by Job whose ‘friends’ have rebuked him for what he has spoken during the despair he feels about the great losses in his life and about his perplexity that God is silent.

Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? (Job 6:26)

Then Piper writes: “When in grief and pain and despair, people often say things they would not otherwise say. . . .  such as “Where is God?” Or, “There is no use in going on.” Or, “Nothing makes any sense.” Or, “There’s no hope for me.” Or, “If God were good, this couldn’t have happened.” He asks, “What shall we do with these words?”

While my experiences of despair are not like Job’s, it seems that if I am thinking or saying these words, it is because my flesh is talking. The Holy Spirit is not behind them for He would be supportive and encouraging. As soon as I recognize that, I need to confess it to God and seek His thoughts so my words are true rather than filled with dark thoughts.

Yesterday was a full, busy day, almost normal, but by suppertime, and for no reason I began feeling as if all was over, that I might die any minute. My body was yelling and my mind picked up that sense of despair. I had not felt tired, but dropped on the sofa during a loud hockey game on TV and fell sound asleep. A bit later, still thinking dark thoughts, I woke up and complained with mutterings, but not yelling, and then went to bed.

All this was gone in the morning. Was my speech from the night before like the wind that Job said? Piper says, “Let us not spend our time and energy reproving such words. They will be blown away of themselves, on the wind.” In other words, these words do not reveal truth about the state of my heart. Instead of being rooted in me, they were colored by temporary feelings.
In my view, they were tempered by self-pity. Instead of thinking of the power of God, and the triumph that comes when He takes me home (or even at the thought of it), I was thinking more about life undone, and not getting more of it so I could do what I want to do. Simply put, this is lack of trust in the wisdom and love of God. It is an attitude promoted by the world, the flesh, and the devil, and should be recognized as such.

As for Job, what else could he say? The flesh is not great at words like, “God will take care of me” or even, “Oh don’t pay any attention to me, I’m just having a pity-party.” I’m fully aware that many times I just need a sharp rebuke, not for my words but maybe a prompt like, “What is making you think that way?” to get my focus off things that I don’t really believe and turned to something like:

If we say we have no 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. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:8–2:1)

The words are just wind for they are not real or true, but they are serious enough to reflect that I’m saying stuff that counters what God says. In other words, I am true and God is lying? Since that is close to blasphemy, then praying for a strong wind is called for.

Jesus is just that. He takes the selfish thoughts and words to the Father seeking forgiveness for me, not based on “She is just ignorant and thoughtless” but on “I died for that outburst and cover those dark thoughts with My blood.”

Job was not being flippant. He was not saying his words were not worth worrying about but that his mind was tripped up by his losses and that reproving him for his complaints was like telling the wind to stop blowing. He needed the words of the Holy Spirit and truth, not a reproof. Nothing less than the Word of God would help him in his situation. The same is true for me.

PRAY: Lord, this is a lesson for me. I know to seek You when I feel terrible about life, but how do I treat others when their words reveal the same feelings? A downcast person needs truth spoken in love, not a rebuke for their self-pity. A rebuke is like a hurricane when what is needed is the gentle breeze of Your wisdom and grace. Help me to stop blowing gale-force and be more considerate of how to deal with those who speak despairing words.

 

Purpose of Life. . .

Several pages in Stephen Charnock’s book, “The Existence and Attributes of God” put me in tears this morning. He describes all the ways that even God’s people not only doubt the power of God, but also deny it. He gives examples from the OT then points to the opposite in many passages from both OT and NT. His point is that the Lord is omnipotent and totally worthy of being called Almighty God, yet so many live as if God is powerless.

Charnock also says that the fact that God is able to do whatever His will desires to do cannot  absolve me from obedience. As He showed me yesterday, He serves us and enables us to live godly lives. Some will say they are serving God as if God requires help, but that is a denial of His power; Almighty God does not need anyone or anything. He simply uses us and the power of the Holy Spirit enables us. One analogy is that He is the hand and we are the glove. As Jesus said:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

Jesus also said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:16–17) So what is the fruit?

From His words, I get the impression that fruit is related to what God puts on my heart and in my prayer list. This begs the question: what motivates me? It must be God, but before I can have godly motivation, I must drop all worldly motivation. . . .  

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)

This covers all personal desires and anything that makes me look good, feel good, and gain glory. Remember the way Jesus criticized the Pharisees for praying and parading to look good before others? Worldliness is about personal I-wants, not the will of God. I’m noticing that many cannot discern the difference. However, God gives a remedy. . . .  

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

The NT tells me to put on the new self and that old self is dead (separated from God) and useless. This is a faith issue for it does not seem dead in the sense of no longer a problem, but very much alive and trying to run things ‘my way’ rather than the way of Jesus.

So the fruit of the Spirit is not about me, my wants, what makes me feel good, etc. apart from what the Spirit gives — which usually feels good, but as soon as the fruit is my goal, I’ve turned my heart from glorifying Jesus to doing what I want — so I will feel good. Obeying Jesus isn’t about glorying in what He gives, but about glorifying Him.

For this, a very mature apostle wrote that he was not there yet, “But Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (Philippians 3:13–15)

PRAY: Lord, my enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil with all three wanting to keep me involved in sinful living rather than being like You and glorifying You. Salvation is freedom from that sin-filled stuff to obey You in whatever You tell me to do. This is why I’m here — to bear that fruit. It’s not about me. You must increase, but I must decrease.

God is my Helper

 

In fellowship with others, we discussed the difference between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh. As Piper says, we are prone to think of ourselves as serving God, but that is not gospel truth. We are not serving Him — but He is serving us. He makes us able to do His will because apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)

We met a woman this week who came to us as a persecuted Christian. She had been put in prison for her faith and was raising her daughters alone, in a very dangerous country. Her husband worked in another one, making enough to support them and other family members. When asked how she survived all that, her face glowed as she told us of God’s care and faithfulness. He gave His peace to her in it all and met her needs. She was so certain of God’s goodness that she did not give in to fear or doubt.

Today’s reading says “God loves to show his tireless power and wisdom and goodness by working for people who trust him.” The NT says of Him:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

This reveals what God is like. He gave Himself for us when He was on the earth, and He keeps on doing the same; meeting needs physically, emotionally, spiritually, and in every way.
This is what the Apostle Paul said about Him:

For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, (Romans 15:18)
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. (2 Timothy 4:17)
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Jesus meets me in my needs, these days mostly for strength (I’ve had too many birthdays) and for ideas. His eagerness to do that is astonishing.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

The word ‘follow’ in Psalm 23 is literally “to pursue” so He is not just tagging behind to see if I need help but taking the initiative — as expressed by Jeremiah:

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:40–41)

PRAY: Lord, this week I’ve noticed how You put helpful ideas and actions into the hearts of others who blessed me by doing what You wanted me to experience. I sit here and weep because of Your thoughtful goodness. So often You are way ahead of me for You do things that I didn’t realize were needed — until You did them. Thank You for such incredible care and faithfulness. “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” (Psalm 54:4)

Whose glory?

Those gifted in teaching are quick to gather information, eager to share it with others, yet often slow to apply it to themselves. I tend to assume that most problems are caused by errors in thinking. That leads to assuming if I think right, then I am okay. But that is an error because my thinking is the root of my actions and if they are lacking or lagging… then something is missing. If God is not telling me what to do, or I am not listening or obeying Him, it could be that I think too highly of myself.

Lately the Bible verses that speak to me often reveal my inabilities and weaknesses in contrast to the power of God. Instead of applying this to myself, I get annoyed at others who err in their thinking. For instance, if another Christian says, “I led so and so to the Lord” I want to say, “No you didn’t. The Holy Spirit did the work in their heart.”

I’ve also sung lyrics like, “To God be the glory, great things He has done” and see His hand in the lives of all the doers, whether they give Him credit or not. And those on the ‘not’ side use their personal pronoun far more than the name of Jesus, making me wonder if the flesh is busier in their lives than they realize. And I am critical for their fleshy words. Then I look in the mirror and cringe — because I do this too.

What is it about us that desires the credit, or at least some of it, for what God does? This attitude has been called “practical atheism” defined as living our Christian lives as if God does not exist, or does not keep His promises or even hears our cries for help. Or I make myself God’s helper when it is me who needs His help. Others are so uncertain of God that they fall into the attitude that “I must do something” or they will lose their salvation. I know the verses that say this is not faith and am critical. God says:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)

I know that Jesus saves. Jesus keeps, protects, leads, intercedes, picks me up when I fall, forgives and cleanses my sin, says “It is finished.” He also says,

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:3–5)

He also promises and works to transform my life and put to death (separation from God) my fleshy old nature so that it has no value or bearing. Fleshy actions are only a waste of time that produce nothing of eternal value. As for my weaknesses, it is in them that God perfects His strength. Where does “I” fit in? No where, except I am to glory in those weaknesses and rejoice in the glory of the Lord, not put myself on a pedestal.

PRAY: God, forgive me for such sinfulness as wanting glory that belongs to You and You only. Forgive me for being annoyed with those who rob You of Your glory, forgetting I do the same. Like me, they may want to be important, not weak or incapable of doing anything apart from You. Forgive me for letting my insecurities drive me to God-playing instead of being thankful for Your great mercy and grace. Please cleanse my heart and deepen my faith and my love for You.

Not sleeping?

Usually I fall asleep quickly and for the night, but last night didn’t. I prayed about the things nagging me, but didn’t “let go and let God” to well after midnight. While most of my friends envy my normal sleeping pattern, they complain of not being able to sleep or stay asleep most of the time. After not sleeping well, I’m not surprised that Piper’s devotions for today speak of our God who never sleeps!

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. (Psalm 121:2–3)
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:5–8)

Before reading about this, I sang praise songs. The one that came first in my collection starts out, “Oh to be like Thee…” and the rest of it describes many of those ways that often seem impossible. Being like Jesus is far different from all human thinking and action. I thought of how difficult it seems and how much I need the Holy Spirit to do anything or even think like Jesus. But I also need Him to sleep well.

After singing, Piper’s devotional reminded me that I am not responsible to transform my life. He says: “We are prone to think of ourselves as workers in God’s life. But the Bible wants us first to be amazed that God is a worker in our lives.” He quoted these promises:

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)

He changes me by letting me see Him, by speaking to me and showing me Himself and it is by the vision of Him and His Word…

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:4)

Awake or asleep, I cannot be like Jesus by my own efforts. As these verses say, He is my keeper. He promises the change and because He does, I can do what He asks…

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

 God’s commitment to complete the good work He has begun in me, even in the entire creation, can be painful at times, but it is for His glory and for more Christlikeness in me. Just being reminded of this settles my heart. I cannot do anything — a reality heightened by having that helpless feeling that comes from lack of sleep. But He never sleeps and even as I toss and turn, He is working out the perfections of His plan in the persistence of His heart.

I know that the promises God makes are primarily about changing me. I don’t change Him when I pray, even though prayer is part of that change, of making me more like Jesus. Yet it is by His promises, not by my prayers — awake or asleep. It is because He has granted me His nature, I am able to escape the corruption of sin, asleep or awake.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

PRAY: Jesus, I am so amazed how the gospel makes a difference in how I think about what You say. Last night I remembered the promise You make in giving Your beloved sleep, but as my readings remind me, I don’t claim Your promises — they claim me. You are not awake to jump into actions at my requests; I am awake to trust Your will for my life. I cannot “name and claim” anything, only to have a greater passion for your glory, only to be more like Jesus instead of being more like my old self. I want to “stand on your promises” whether You give me sleep or sleeplessness. I want to be like You and trust You to keep working in my life. You are the Potter and I am clay in Your hands — always, for You never leave me to go take a nap.               

Memory problems. . . .

 

This morning I was upset briefly over a very small thing. God gave me one of His looks and reminded me of this weekend’s strong lessons. He is faithful and will eventually finish the work He started in me. He promises that one day, when I see Him face to face, I will be like Jesus (1 John 3:1-3).

While I want this now, my efforts are often side-tracked by very small things. In all these, God shows me that sin runs deep and if I look at myself, it seems being like Jesus will never happen. Yet He persists. The following verses describe some of what I’m to be, even though it seems so impossible. At that, I need to remember the last lines, and believe them:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–24)

The reading in Charnock’s wonderful book speaks to my doubts too. He says:

All distrust is founded in a doubting of his truth, as if he would not be as good as his word; or of his omniscience, as if he had not a memory to retain his word; or of his power, as if he could not be as great as his word. We measure the infinite power of God by the short line of our understandings, as if infinite strength were bounded within the narrow compass of our finite reason; as if he could do no more than we were able to do.

Most of the time I’m not caught up in distrust yet falling short brings it on, revealing that I’m trusting my performance instead of where my righteousness comes from. It is in Jesus, by grace. Not in me. I cannot be like Him without Him. What is annoying is forgetting this so easily. The OT people of God did it too. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?" (Psalm 78:19) They did not connect that His power to turn the dust of Egypt into lice for the punishment of their oppressors, could also turn the dust of the wilderness into corn for the support of their bodies! He rebuked the Red Sea for their safety, but could not provide bread for their nourishment?

To them, the giants of Canaan were too strong for Him, but they had seen the armies of Egypt drown under His hand. Was their distrust from a denial of God’s existence, or of His power over the world, or were they thinking He’d created creatures too hard for Himself? Or like me, did they simply failed to reflect on who and what God is and instead kept thinking about their own abilities or lack thereof?

PRAY: Jesus, to be like You is Your work in me, yet my part is active involvement in this relationship, talking to You, thinking Your truth, relying on You for even the little things, and realizing all the time and for all those little things, You are here with me and wanting me to know that — and to be delighted in all that it means. I so easily blame my attention issues when the problem is not that, but thinking too well of myself instead of remembering You constantly say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Because of this truth, I need to “boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10) —for it is in weakness that I rely on and obey You.

Walking the Talk

 

For three days God speaks to me about His supply being for each day, not the next day or next week, but “new every morning” so that I only carry the weight of each day. So what do I do? I spent much of the last two days stewing about a project that I must begin today. No ideas or thoughts of how to do it. Totally in the dark, until this morning.

Grace for the day. Hello. It is bad enough to worry about anything, but to totally ignore the answer to my worries as if the great thoughts God spelled out had nothing to do with them… really? I am totally red in the face. Today’s verses are like a kick in the pants:

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Confession is agreeing with God. Confession is admitting guilt. Today, confession feels like a big apology, a DUH in large letters. But the most amazing thing is that before sitting down with my Bible and devotional book, the good Lord flooded my mind with all the ideas I need for the project that must begin today! Is that grace and mercy? I feel His boot, but it is also a big hug.

The Lord does give what I need one day at a time. Instead of trusting Him, instead of ‘walking the talk’ I totally ignored what He said and even prayed for answers, but He gave them when needed, just like His way of doing things.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22–23)

I’ve twenty minutes to get from this chair to a meeting room. I’d also worried about that, but He woke me up and got me going in time for that too, another new mercy. What can I say? God is good, even to foolish and forgetful people like me.

PRAY: Thank You, Jesus. Fill me up that I might never talk without walking too. Just knowing something is not complete until I also live out what You tell me.


 

Finding Rest. . .

Sunday is supposedly a day of rest. I’m thinking that it isn’t always. Some people must work or lose their job. Pastors and church leaders might be ‘resting on the inside’ but they are not idle. In our church with a massive crowd for brunch each week, the volunteers who prepare the food and those who set up, and those who clean up are busy working. We also have friends that see needs and their mantra is, “I’ve got to do something” regardless of the day.

Some time ago God used a word search to enrich this passage:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

There are two ‘burdens’ in these verses. The first is ‘heavy laden’ and the original Greek word refers to a large cargo that is by no means easy to carry. The second one is translated from a different Greek word and basically refers to the invoice that is attached to the cargo.

The contrast is evident; when Jesus wants me to do something, it will not wear me to the bone but be relatively easy. Why? Because when it is from Him and done in reliance upon Him, the Holy Spirit is involved and while my efforts may require muscle, they will not be wearisome. I will not feel like I’ve been carrying a big load.

Piper quotes Lamentations 3:22–23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Then he adds, “With every day’s measure of pain, he gives new mercies. . . .  God’s mercies are new every morning because each day has enough mercy in it only for that day. This is why we tend to despair when we think that we may have to bear tomorrow’s load on today’s resources. God wants us to know that we won’t. Today’s mercies are for today’s troubles. Tomorrow’s mercies are for tomorrow’s troubles.”

Isn’t that true? Instead of being concerned with today’s invoice, I can get overloaded with tomorrow’s to-do list. I can worry if I don’t know what to expect, or if I think my burden will weigh more than my time or energy can handle. It is easy to forget that Jesus isn’t into letting His people carry more than we can handle — like two day’s problems in one day, or tomorrow’s issues all night, both robbers of energy and forgetting the lessons from manna in the wilderness. (Exodus 16)

Jesus supplies what I need for today. This is not only a day of rest but a day of worship and fellowship with His family. He will fill my heart with joyful worship as long as I kick out plans for the afternoon, or what to have for supper, or what is on my calendar for Monday, or all next week’s responsibilities. He wants me to experience the delight of His faithfulness and new mercies on this day and entrust tomorrow and the future to Him, including the future of what is going on in this world, what is lacking, how many family members we have that have not yet said yes to Him, or anything else that piles a burden on my mind. Focus on Him is incredibly restful.

PRAY: Jesus, I get tired when I take on a burden that is not from You. Or when I try to deal with obligations that are not going to hit me until next week. Planning ahead isn’t wrong, but letting the future become a burden indicates I’m not listening to You and definitely not resting in You. Forgive me. This kind of thinking is fleshy and sinful. Today I come to learn from You and to rest — with just the invoice.