Why me?

One question that has no answer is this: Why does God save some and not others? There are debates. The Armenians insist it is up to us, that we must make the choice to believe, but there is much in Scripture that says we do not make that choice without the work of the Holy Spirit in us. For instance, Jesus said:

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44)

Since all have sinned and fall short, why does God save some and punish others? This is such a conundrum that some decide there is no hell because God can save everyone and God loves the world — so all will be saved. But that is not biblical either.

This is where faith comes in. Faith is trusting God even when we cannot figure out or see what He is doing. He reveals Himself as sovereign and good. Believing that can be a challenge if I use my eyes to built my faith. That is mostly a no-no.

When it comes to punishment, I know what God would do if I got what I deserved, but He also put that punishment on His Son so I am no longer condemned. Yet God has every right to condemn. He has dominion over all and when anyone refuses to obey the law that He has the right to make, those laws would be meaningless without justice. He has provided a substitute to take it for me, but if I refuse that offer, who then would experience the judgment I deserve? No one but me.

 The human heart expects consequences. Sometimes I can be deluded and think my foolish choices will turn out good, but that is folly. Some might delight in ‘getting away with it’ but eventually face the results of making light of the laws of God. The final consequence is standing before His throne and facing His judgment on our lives. Because I know Jesus and know that He died for my sin, I’m not anxious about what He will determine, but there are millions who do not fit that category. And it seems because God did not draw them or choose them. 

This makes no sense to me. Why me? I’ve done nothing to earn or deserve God's mercy. Yet God says this: 

As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory — (Romans 9:12–23)

God is God. He has every right to do as He pleases, and I have no right to find fault, resist His will, or even try to figure out what He is doing unless He reveals it to me. And He has not given reasons for loving Jacob and not Esau, or loving me and not that other person. 

The horrified try to figure out why Abram took Issac up the mountain, but the Bible says he did it because he trusted God to restore his life. Yet even with his deep faith, Abe didn’t guess what would happen. God stopped the sacrifice by offering a substitute. Faith is about trusting God, not knowing for certain why or what or having reasons that make sense.

My conclusion? God picks some but not others according to reasons He has not revealed and I’m to trust Him anyway, even if I don’t understand the why of it.

PRAY: And that is my faith today. Lord, if You surprise me with goodness for no reason I can see, I trust You. If You send hard things for no reason I can see, that might shake me up but it should not. You are God and You do not change. You are always wise and good, Enable me to trust You all the time and no matter what. Amen.

He is on and in my mind!

Is it possible that an aging mind often becomes an extreme version of the way a person thinks most of their earlier life? My mom has Alzheimer’s and in the early stages we talked about it. I told her I didn’t dwell on the past and my memory of early events was dim, so if/when I lost my short-term memory, my mind would be a total blank. We both laughed.

This morning’s devotional reading is about the power of the mind to choose. It gives this as an example:

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5–6)

I almost laughed when I read it. My mind is what some call scattered. I’m easily distracted and focus has always been a challenge. However, the Lord has taught me His solution. To be able to think clearly and focus on Him, I must be filled with the Spirit. That means all known sin is confessed, and I trust Him to put in my head what He wants me to think about, to say, and to do. This is a freedom. 

I’ve had situations where I said something that just “popped out” and later wondered where that came from, yet it was always appropriate and fit with the fruit of the Spirit. No setting my mind or thinking what was the right thing; it was just there.

Now as I read these verses, it seems more a description of two ways to think rather than a choice of what to think. That is, if I am filled with the Spirit of God, I will be thinking as the Spirit thinks. If I am not filled, I will be thinking fleshy thoughts, always self-focused, trying to impress listeners, promote myself, and so on. 

Selfish living is separated from God, and the word of God calls that spiritual death. Abiding in Him in total faith and under His control sets my mind on the Spirit and that is life and peace.

And for me, being filled with His Spirit can leave my body entirely exhausted, which I cannot explain. I just know that when I am trusting the Lord, conversations with others seem to take energy out of me and I become very tired. Perhaps this is because the energy of the Spirit is no longer needed and I’m left with that old self? Not sure. Opinions and thoughts are welcome. 
Yesterday was an example. I went to bed early and slept soundly, and hours longer than normal, but woke up feeling renewed. God gave me fresh ideas in my sleep about being organized even if I have memory problems, and how to practice hospitality without many resources. The sense of having worshiped in my sleep was strong. What a gift…

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:9–11)
For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

PRAY: How awesome. It is true that You are all that I need. I only need to believe You and give You my heart and mind, and You fill me with whatever You want me to think, say, and do. You alway amaze and even surprise me. Truly, to live is Christ! Thank You.
 

Wanting to share Christ?

 

The more I observe life and the activities of those who are Christian AND filled with the Holy Spirit, the more I’m convinced that the person who said “Share the gospel and sometimes use words” was on to something.

Consider this conversation between a Christian golfer and the person he was paired up with. That man said, “What’s your name?” introducing himself, the Christian said, “Phil Callaway,” and the man then asked, “Do you make the clubs?”

The Christian replied, “No, I pay people to do that” then quickly told him the truth. Then, when the conversation got past golf and the weather, it didn’t take long for the other man to  discover that Callaway was a Christian.

Then the other man said, “I’ve had awful experiences with Christians.” And Callaway responded with, “Really? Me, too.” He shared that this response opened the door for a lengthy discussion that had a positive and hopeful conclusion.

My husband tells of several golfers he’d never met or even talked to about his faith, but by the third or fourth hole, they apologized for taking the Lord’s name in vain.

The NT says: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” (Colossians 4:5) While this may include our words, it says “walk” not “talk” leaving me to think that if my life does not match the way God wants me to live, I’m wasting my time with words about trusting Jesus for forgiveness and a new life.

Not talking does not mean non-verbal stuff like the couple once spotted who wore jean jackets covered with “Jesus” buttons, literally covered. These two stood out, but not the way they thought. Callaway mentions pinning verses to our shirts or dropping Gospels of John on the fairway instead of taking every opportunity to live out our faith. 

Most of my examples are small. I once saw a small child in the foyer of a movie theatre holding a full cup of popcorn. Someone bumped her and her popcorn landed on the floor before she had taken one bite. She was crying. I didn’t know the child, but bought her a new popcorn. That was years ago, but Callaway’s story reminds me of it. I’m to let the Lord’s ‘first thought’ become action. It was not to rebuke the one who bumped her and then walk away with a “turn or burn’ scowl, but to show kindness to the upset child.

More recently, I took my purchases to a real person rather than use the noisy automatic checkout machines. I told her that I’d rather listen to her than a machine. She almost burst into tears and said, “That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me all week.”

Some might say that the child nor the clerk knew that such actions come from the love of God, but they forget that the Holy Spirit has the ability to convey to others where kindness or any other obedient behavior comes from. My friends at this week’s birthday party did not need to spell it out or even need to say “God bless you” to make visible the extraordinary difference Christ has made in their lives. One of them, a non-Christian, told me how much she is blessed to hang out with those women. She is being drawn to the wonder of God’s goodness by the openness and integrity of their lives.

PRAY: The word that comes to mind is integrity. Jesus, my life and my words need to match. No mask. No pretense. No attitude of ‘holier than thou’ or efforts to look like a Christian (whatever that means), but just being who I am… warts and all, and letting You use me as You will. When I sing ‘just as I am’ that is what the words convey from my side of things, and You are amazing in how You use integrity to convey Your love and Your truths to others.
 

Spirit vs. flesh?

 

Lately I’ve noticed in myself and in others the contrast between two ways to live. It is described in the NT like this:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16–18)

While the Bible is filled with information to help us know the difference, the Lord gave me a new thought about this by a question: What does perfect obedience look like? 

I was with a few Christian women earlier this week who were unlike most people that I’ve ever met. It is hard to explain, but they were without pretense, ego issues, guilt, malice, resentment, nor any other negatives. However, they could tease one another, boast in their own weaknesses, and laugh about everything. These women were like children in joyful play, yet profound in their wisdom. 

As I think about them and about other experiences, I realize that God is showing me how to define what it is like to walk in the Spirit. It isn’t about choice, because He does it, but there are no desires of the flesh. Sin simply does not enter the mind, and if it does, it is quickly recognized and rejected. Love flows instead.

This morning, God raised another question. This one is related to His first command:
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16–17)

Why that one? The fruit itself was not evil. Charnock says, “Adam was prohibited nothing else but this one, as a sign of his subjection. Now for this no reason can be rendered by any man but merely the will of God; this was merely a fruit of his dominion.”

In other words, God told Adam to do what He said, without making any judgment on it or having any reason to see why. A similar command was made to Abram when he was told to sacrifice his son. That man just did it, without asking why, or protesting, or offering a ‘better’ idea. Obedience is not so much a conscious choice but a spontaneous positive response to what God said. So is walking by the Spirit.

In the garden, God gave that one rule to show the only boundary I have for the freedom God gives. That boundary is: “Did God give me the thought? Or is it my idea?” What highlights His sovereignty? Is there self-reliance in this idea, my words, or my actions? Or is it pure God?

Unfortunately, many learn (or not) by trial and error. Mostly error. I follow a fleshy idea without being Spirit-filled and crash. Had I been Spirit-filled, that idea would not have entered my head in the first place.

This is the difference between the old life and the childlike innocence that Jesus gives. A Spirit-filled life replaces the ‘death’ of being useless, separated from God, self-glorying and driving by personal effort. The flesh might seem okay, even good, but its source is rooted in the knowledge of good and evil and making a choice, rather than in the spontaneous response to the Holy Spirit, regardless of what He asks of me. There is so much trust that disobedience or even questioning God is not even a thought.

The commands of the Law all have reasons. Caring about others keeps the world in peace. Being thankful produces contentment. Prayer keeps me connected to the Lord. But knowing good and evil draws me into a life of making choices instead of simply living only to do what God puts in my heart. And out of that life flows “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

 PRAY: Lord, You are telling me to simply love and trust You, to focus on Your kingdom and righteousness, to be filled with Your Spirit — and You will lead me along the way everlasting. While explaining this ‘walk in the Spirit’ to others, may each of us enjoy a return to Eden before sin threw us out — and may You receive great glory. Amen!

Grace and Priorities

 

Yesterday I nearly did something for the first time — make a quilt in one day. But my new machine ran out of bobbin thread, and because it has updated technology, rewinding the bobbin required reading the manual, which is one of the most complex documents ever… so I made supper and watched a movie instead.

I’d slept in yesterday too, so had about one-hour less day than usual and then did it again this morning. Sometimes such things make me want a do-over. In golf, they call this a mulligan. The Spirit nudged me to read Callaway’s devotional, and it was about mulligans! He illustrated with a story I’d not heard before…

A man named John Newton was first mate on an English slave ship in a world of violence, rape, and oppression. He rejected God and mocked the faith of any believing crewman. At one point, his own wicked behavior landed him in chains, where he found himself at the mercy of the very slaves he was selling. They could have beaten him or cursed him. Instead, they took pity on him. Did this soften his heart?

Perhaps. While sailing back to England, a terrible storm took the life of one of the sailors, and the question began to haunt Newton: If you die tonight, where will you spend eternity? Remembering those slaves and the words “Christ died for sinners,” Newton fell to his knees and begged forgiveness.

He later wrote, “I see no reason why the Lord singled me out for mercy unless it was to show, by one astonishing instance, that with Him nothing is impossible.”

Today, this man’s hymns are sung around the world, and at the top of the hit list is his most famous: “Amazing Grace.”

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see…

His epitaph reads, “John Newton…once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, preserved, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”

My desire for a do-over for a couple days that needed less sleep and more action is nothing compared to the mercy and grace of God who transforms the life of a sinner. Being forgiven is one thing; being given new life as well is incredible.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)

PRAY: With that thought from You, Lord, I head into this day with a greater sense of purpose. Without You, what would I be doing? Loafing? Wasting time watching something senseless on TV? Who knows? But with You, I know what to do next, and after I worship in song and pray in faith, I know that You will lead me into whatever else You have in mind for my day. Thank You for amazing grace that enables me to make better decisions than the priorities I would pick for myself — and then wonder about my own sanity and judgment. Your choices are always wise and give me peace and a sense of purpose. Bless Your holy Name.
 

Joy is…

Piper’s devotional for today is about the failure of ‘stuff’ to make us happy. He gives stats showing the poor vs. the rich and how being rich does not do it. This is a common idea: money does not buy happiness.

How about defining the terms? Christians tend to define happiness differently than joy. Joy lasts and is not about circumstances. Happy is about circumstances. While I can be happy with what happens, difficult circumstances cannot rob me of joy.

Piper gets most of his biblical quotes from Proverbs which are general truths or common principles, not false, yet definitive in many cases. For instance, one says: “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” (Proverbs 15:17) This does not mean that all dinners of herbs are better than a feast. Instead, this describes the contrast between love and hate using two kinds of meals.

That said, my experiences show a few different ‘proverbs’ about having stuff and being happy can also be true. For example, I know some very wealthy people who are miserable, but others with scads of money who know Jesus Christ and are joyful all the time. Their joy isn’t in money.

I also know poor people who struggle to make ends meet. Some of them are worried all the time and complain often about their lot in life, but others are happy with a contagious joy, no matter how little they have. These are the people who also know Jesus. Their joy is not about stuff.

My conclusion: joy is a fruit of being filled with the Holy Spirit and trusting God, no matter what my bank balance says. Joy is the delight of knowing the Lord and knowing He is in charge. He “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” and gives me all that I need, including contentment. Being happy with what I have is a by-product of joy. But if I let happiness depend on what I have rather than on the source of it, the Holy Spirit, then I will be anxious, wanting more, etc.

These verses contrast having stuff with not having stuff, and use that to illustrate the contrast between living my life as God directs (through His Spirit) and living my life according to my selfish desires. It isn’t about stuff, but about what I want vs. what God wants. It is not sinful to be rich unless I make riches my resource, my god. Here is the list from Proverbs:

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. (Proverbs 16:8)
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19)
Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. (Proverbs 17:1)
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. (Proverbs 28:6)
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. (Proverbs 14:21)
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs 16:20)

These verse are illustrations. They could be written another way that is also true.

Great riches can be a blessing to many in the hands of someone who is righteous.
Those who have much are blessed to share it with those who are needy rather than with others who also have much.
A banquet filled with joyful noise is better than a silent meal where those present will not talk to each other.
A rich person who is known for honest integrity is better than a poor person who lies and steals to supply his meager needs.
Sadness comes from neglecting or hating the needy to wallow in all that I have.
All negative emotions and misery are mine when I am totally selfish instead of reading and heeding the will of God and trusting Him. 

 I could add what others say, like George MacDonald: “Happily for our blessedness, the joy of possession soon palls.” The sad part is thinking that having bigger, better, more, or the latest stuff will renew or restore that joy, but even if it does, that happiness  does not last. To suppose it will just keeps me in a self-centered cycle.  I have also noticed that some people have all they need and more, but still whine and complain as if they are terribly hard done by.

PRAY: Lord, You brought me into Your kingdom when I was very poor and let me see how You not only supplied all my needs but gave me that joyful contentment that outlasts and out-weighs any other source of delight. I’ve been poor and I’m also rich, not in mere money (who can take it with them to eternity), but in knowing that no matter what You give or withhold, joy never depends on the gifts but the Giver. Thank You.

Sovereignty of God produces peace… or cursing?

Last week I read a social media post where the woman who wrote it declared she was not a child of God and not subject to Him in any way. She said she could do what she wanted and expressed her views with colorful language.

This made me both sad and disgusted, sad because she didn’t have a love relationship with her Creator, and disgusted that she had no regard for God except to curse Him and boast of her independence from Him. Doesn’t she know Paul’s words to the unsaved people of Athens that they should “seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ “ (Acts 17:27–28)

No one can draw another breath apart from the will of God. As for being subject to Him, Charnock writes this: “He can make a man of not willing, willing; the wills of all men are in his hand; i. e. under the power of his scepter, to retain or let go upon this or that errand, to bend this or that way; as water is carried by pipes to what house or place the owner of it is pleased to order and backed it up with:

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord, he turns it wherever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)

Years ago, before my hubby knew Jesus as his Savior and Lord, he asked me to bend the truth to a supplier so we could save some money. I didn’t want to do that, so I asked God to help me with the right response. He surprised me by somehow changing my husband’s mind. That, and countless other examples demonstrate His power to me and in the world.

This is an historical reality, the reason why Christians pray big prayers. It is because our BIG God can do whatever He wants done. 

An OT story is just brief but shows how the Lord thinks about human needs. Baruch was a secretary for Jeremiah. He knew God’s words about the enemy coming in to take His people into captivity and this man was upset about the threat. This is what God did:

The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of ß the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.” (Jeremiah 45:1–5)

Sometimes I hear Christians moan because of current threats to our safety and well-being. Sometimes I do it too. I need to remember that God is still able to turn the hearts of kings. I may wonder why some of them are bent on destruction or other sinful goals despite our prayers, yet God takes care of those who obey Him and He uses catastrophe to discipline those who do not listen or do what He says. Jeremiah makes that clear. The experiences of my life also make it clear. 

PRAY: Lord Jesus, You know what You are doing. I trust You even as I fear the direction the world seems to be going. At times, I feel as if You are saying: ‘You want to run your own lives? Let’s see how that works out for you.’ At the same time, You are bringing many to Jesus, stories that seldom make the news but stories that began with You going to the fearful and giving them new life in Christ as a prize, even as those fearful events do not cease. You can change hearts, and for that I am both excited and grateful. 


 

What about a worldly mind-set?

 

What is a Christian supposed to do when another Christian is walking in the flesh? The NT instructions could prompt a lot of discussion. Several come to mind that say this is to be done in Christ-like gentleness. Most of those refer to telling truth to unbelievers.

However, God is not so gentle when it comes to dealing with Christians who sin and should know better. For example:

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. (Psalm 141:5)
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:5-6)
Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. (Proverbs 28:23)
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, (Luke 17:3)
As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. (1 Timothy 5:20)
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (Titus 1:13)
Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (Titus 2:15)

Most Christians have an aversion to a preacher who shakes their finger at them. As I read the OT prophets, it seems that a lot of that is happening, but at the same time, writers like Isaiah and Jeremiah also speak about the goodness and power of God. He gave His people reasons why they should obey God and rebuked them for their unbelief and disobedience. Yet who enjoys rebuke!

Sometimes in a group that gather for study and prayer, some of those present try to “fix” the problems presented in prayer requests rather than asking God’s will to be done. They may tell the person who made the request how to fix their problem, which could be helpful (or not), but often do it by telling God how to fix it. as if our ideas are solutions God never thought of, or worse, that He doesn’t know what He is doing. Many prayers are for the comfort rather than the will of God.

Think of what Jesus said to Peter when this man said Jesus should not die:

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21–23)

The words do not convey whether Jesus spoke gently or with strong authority, but He did not thank Peter for being concerned. This disciple was thinking about comfort and that his friend should never suffer or die, but not the will of God. Did he not hear Jesus pray, “Not My will but Thine be done”?

When a Christian is behaving or even talking as if they don’t know God, I usually pray for them, but sometimes God wants me to say something. To be like Jesus could mean a gentle and private conversation, but as the above verses say, Jesus was not always that way with His rebukes. Sometimes He used sharp words. When He speaks to me, He is usually gentle too, but I know the feel of His sharpness. It usually comes when I’ve persisted in having my own way for some time and need a swift kick instead of a soft warning.

PRAY: Lord, I rebuked someone who persists in trying to “fix” the problems of others, even those who are trusting You to take care of them. This person wants everyone to be comfortable and seems oblivious to the reality that You use even tough trials for our good. Wanting to be comfortable all the time can mean pushing Your will out of the picture. Thank You for letting me know that a rebuke can be sharp and reminding me that if Peter had his way, You would not have gone to the cross. Then where would we be!

Did the devil make this happen?

In reading about God’s dominion over all things, I’m encouraged to trust Him even more by reminders that all evil spirits are subject to His authority. Job comes to mind as everything that Satan did to harm this man and take from him the evidences of God's goodness happened only because God gave this evil enemy permission to do it. 

That OT book reveals that when terrible things happen, God is not oblivious. He has a purpose, just as the NT says:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)

While I know that if God gave sinners what we deserve, we who trust Him would not be enjoying His mercy and grace, but as Charnock says, the evil devils “have cast themselves out of the arms of his grace into the furnace of His justice” and by their revolt, forfeited the treasure of his goodness. But they cannot escape from the realm of His dominion.

This applies not only to evil spirits but to all who refuse to own Him as Lord and Father. Instead, they are under Him as Lord and Judge and not set free from His rule.

Just as a human ruler is lord over his criminals as well as of his loyalest subjects, so God has this same rule over all. Job’s story tells me that God uses wickedness to do His will, not by their authority but by His.

Even when criminals and sinners refuse to live under God, those who punish them or pull them into the consequences of sin, it is not about the power of anyone else. No one can say that the devil made them do it or the devil is punishing them, because when the devil is used by God for the punishment of any, it is an act of His sovereignty to make evident His justice. Many nations use vile people to do their dirty work with their natural malice but for His own purposes. 

That is, God can use evil beings to execute His judgments upon their followers, as well as sometimes inflict discipline upon His own servants. No matter what is happening, God has reason and purpose because He is sovereign. Think of it: He ordered the destroying nature of fire to preserve His three children, and let it loose to consume their adversaries.

And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. (Daniel 3:27)

Jesus ordered storms to cease because, “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.” (Psalm 89:9) His dominion extends over the highest ruler and the lowest peasant; the proudest millionaire and the poorest beggar. He “shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.” (Job 34:19)
In innocence, or in revolt, I am under His authority, whether I obey or violate His will. He even orders where I live. (Acts 17:26)

History shows human pride designing and attempting to rule, politicians and religious figures alike, yet none can do it because God’s authority cannot be surpassed.

PRAY: Lord, in these days when leaders spar as if they are the ultimate monarchs or will be, You laugh at them (Psalm 2) knowing how foolish are such notions. Yet fear strikes many that tyrants will ruin our lives. As I read of Your dominion and yield to it, fear walks out the door and my heart laughs too. Who can out-do God Almighty? You gave me the ability to say NO to evil and evil ideas, and YES to Your will and purposes. Grant discernment and faith to know which is which and to laugh with You at the vanity that hits the news. May I see it knowing that no matter what is going on, You are pure goodness and righteousness, and You remain on the throne — nothing happens without Your permission and Your righteous good will.



 

He is Lord of All

 

Rather flippantly, some call God the man in the sky, or the big boss. This is like the disrespect given to an earthy father by calling him ‘my old man’ instead of father, dad, or daddy. I’m finally understanding His total sovereignty and feel even more angst at the inadequacy of such titles. Our God is far more than those words convey.

This morning, Charnock points to Scriptures that I’d not noticed nor thought about. His examples expand my concept of God and fill me with thoughts of worship and much gratitude, just as the OT prophets said: 

You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. (Isaiah 48:6)
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Charnock reminds me that angels and all creatures belong to God's authority. He is called “The Lord of Hosts” which often refers to angelical legions. They are “His hosts” and “ministers that do his pleasure.” For example, when Jesus was born, the gospel writer said:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13–14)

The OT prophet also declared what God told him: “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.” (Isaiah 45:12) “All their host” is employed by God to do His will and not one resists Him. This includes all the inanimate creation in heaven. He calls the stars by name (Psalm 147:4) and He rules them to do His will like a general of an army appoints the position of every regiment in a battle. 

Imposing names is also a sign of dominion. I’m reminded of how God told Adam to name all other living creatures, and later told to have dominion over them. The stars, named by God, are under His sovereign dominion. Along with kings, and a raging river, this is what God says of them:

The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might! (Judges 5:19–21)

The sun also serves God's purposes:

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. (Joshua 10:12–13)

Creation obeys God without resistance as if they desire to share in the ruin of the enemies of their Creator and Sovereign God. The weather also does His bidding:

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:7–13)

I know Jesus commanded storms to cease and am fully assured that global warming is the least of our worries should God tell the weather to declare His wrath against sin.

PRAY: Jesus, You control all creation. If You say GO, all go. If You say COME all come. We humans are the only ones who resist You and want our own way. Yet mercy and grace changes that resistance to praise. I see Your power in many ways, and my desire deepens to see it and Your incredible goodness in the hearts of all who vainly want to run their own lives. Remind me often that You are Lord of all. Amen.

The most ‘successful’ lie…

In Eden, the serpent (Satan in disguise) suggested to Eve that God didn’t actually want the best for her and Adam. Believing that lie resulted in the first sin and is still the biggest faith-destroyer in this world. By thinking that God does not want good for me, or is not using the painful events of my life for good, I am likely to take matters into my own hands instead of trusting Him. While I am free to make choices, I have no control over the consequences. 

For example, deciding to do my own thing puts a wedge in my relationship with the Lord. Jesus said: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14) He also said:

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)

He describes the consequences of obedience, but what happens if I think His will is not good for me and say no? Instead of listening to God, I want whatever I can do or get? Specifics are hard to predict but one thing is certain:

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

I don’t want to be God's enemy, but Jesus made it clear that no one can serve two masters. It is either God or myself, but when fed ideas from the Liar, he appeals to my selfish desires and blurs or blasts the goodness of God.

Obedience is also important in learning God's will. Like walking a dark path with a flashlight, I cannot see more than the next step unless I step into it. The lie is exposed as I pray and focus on truth:

Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law. . . .  You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. (Psalm 119:29; 68)

Obedience is important because: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:4)

Doing what God says produces the good fruit of the Spirit and increases my ability to obey. The fruit of the Spirit requires giving up its opposites, but it does not take long to see the choice is a no-brainer. Believing truth produces good things because God is good and wants good. Believing the lie leads to selfishness, gross sin, and pain for me and everyone around me.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:19–26)

Knowing God wants good for His people changes my prayer life. If the lives of my friends (or my life) seems uncomfortable or filled with ‘bad’ stuff, I’m learning to search for the good that God promises to use in transforming lives to be like Jesus. Sometimes His pruning hurts, but the end result is always amazing. Why not pray for ‘quick cuts’ and incredible results?

Not only that, the more I know God is good, the more my prayers are answered. He does this, not so I am blessed (even though I am) but so He is glorified. The Liar says otherwise. However, as God hears and answers prayer, but to put that Liar and his lies in their place. Answered prayer is another fruit of the Spirit. It blesses those who believe and pray, and astounds those who should be doing the same. 

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:7–8)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, the more I spend time with You and see Your goodness, the more my heart desires that You are glorified. This dark world needs to see and hear the truth. I know that some will resist and hate You, remain slaves of sin, self, and the lies, yet I also know You are able to shed light in the hearts of sinners. Be glorified in our hearts that we might be able to glorify You in our lives. Help me to submit to You always and resist the devil so he will flee from me (James 4:7). Millions need to realize that he is lying when he says You are not good. Amen.

God’s ways. . . .

This past few days have me thinking about many things. One of them is the faith of two refugee families. They love the Lord and are so joyful to be in this country with the freedom to worship Jesus Christ. We are delighted to be their friends.
 
I’m also thinking of Charlie Kirk. The news media makes this a political issue but those who know Jesus and know what the Bible says, are saying that what killed him was not his political views but his biblical views. His widow stated that “the spiritual warfare is palpable” and Kirk had often used similar language as he called the 2024 election a spiritual battle.

Then there is the man who spoke to a small gathering at our church. He had been with a Bible translation organization for sixty years, spending much of that time in a South American country, in the jungle, with a tribe that initially did not have a written language. He described years of learning how to speak it, write it, then teach the people how to read. It was put it into story books and other material and eventually Scripture. After more than two decades, this tribe of people knew and loved Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

This man glorified God. He told us that he never finished high school, had been kicked out of Bible school, and suspended from working with the translation organization for two years. His three daughters entered South America with serious problems. A doctor said one of them would be in a wheel chair all her life, but at sixteen she won a 100-dash at a sports event. God took this man and his family through incredible trials. He has written nine books mostly about the wonder and power of God to do what He did to change their lives and the lives of that tribe in the jungle.

These, and the things that are happening in my own life, are evidence of this truth:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9)

The refugee families have a faith that belies how many Christians “trust” God in North America. We tend to praise Him for the good stuff, even to the point of idolatry, while they love Him for all things, even the persecution that drove them from their homes to come here. Now they are free to share their faith.

Oddly enough, Kirk is made out to be the bad guy for sharing what God says about the sin in this world. Yet the media portrays the reason for his death is his political affiliations. They are not going to call this hatred persecution. Is it because that would make them the bad guys?

At the same time, when I listen to most politicians, I think that they are doing the best they can with the knowledge they have. Most of them are not in a personal relationship with God, nor do they have the Holy Spirit living in them. While He can give them direction, they may not recognize it as wise because God’s ways are not our ways and most of His ways seem unreal, unpleasant, and certainly unwanted.

Then I think of the missionary who determined to obey God no matter what. He admitted to not being the smartest, best behaved person, nor did he have the qualifications most people would admire. Yet despite all that, dozens and perhaps hundreds of people have assurance of eternal life because God used him to tell them about Jesus. From various sources, I hear that Kirk did the same thing. Many who heard him, even watched him die, have put their faith in the Savior who also died for him, not just because the ‘religious’ leaders hated Jesus, but because God the Father so loved us that He sent His Son to take our penalty for our sin.

PRAY: Yes, Lord, Your ways are not like ours. It is easy to make my own safety and comfort a priority rather than boldly tell others of your righteousness and power. I know the pull of sin and the deep desire to ‘do my own thing’ rather than rely on You for everything. At the same time, those like the refugees, and Kirk, and our linguistic friend are a great encouragement to faith, to pray for all believers, especially those who are being persecuted for their faith, and for all who do not yet know You, including politicians, media people, anyone in leadership, and our families, friends, and neighbors. May Your will be done. Amen.

Know God’s Will

 

Last Sunday a woman told me the situation in her family. Then she said, “I don’t know what to do.” While I felt her pain, I remembered a sermon from years ago. The pastor outlined the various places in the Bible that plainly state the will of God, mostly to do with faith and obedience, then said if those were true in our lives, we could do whatever we wanted. 

He explained with this verse: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) noting that when our hearts are right with Him, God puts His will in our hearts. In other words, His will for me is godliness and that is so important to Him that He might use difficult circumstances to bring me to listen before He uses me or answers my prayers.

He has different ways to make His will known. As Piper points out, God sometimes designs circumstances so that I end up where He wants me — without me realizing it. His example is from Acts 16 where Paul and Silas found themselves in jail, and the result was the salvation of the jailer and his household. His plan went beyond their plans, but since “no plans of His can be thwarted” (Job 42:2), He will do this when necessary.

The necessity might include dealing with our sin. I’m reading Jeremiah and how God put His people in exile because they were not obedient. Their shepherds were lying to His sheep and leading them astray. He said: Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. . . . “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds…” and this is what He did. His will was not what they wanted meaning comfort and their own way. God also said He would send a Redeemer, but after that promise He warned them:

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’ ” For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. (Jeremiah 23:16–20)

Clearly God's priority is our holiness and obedience. If I listen to us and do what He says, other instructions become clear. None of this happens if I’m walking in the flesh. To hear Him, I need to be humble, filled with the Holy Spirit, and continually in His Word. 

God did not write His will about every detail in my life. Do I go to a seminar or stay home? Do I visit this person or that one? Do I purchase this needed item or not? For all this, I need godly discernment. I’ve learned that my decisions are not totally reliable. I’ve also learned that He will give me the right choice if I listen. He shapes my mind and inclines my heart to whatever will bring Him the most glory.

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)

Sometimes He simply speaks to me. It may be a simple thing, like what turn to take when driving somewhere, or what book to take home when browsing in a store or the library, or how much to give when a needy person tells me their story. Very often my husband or I share a thought and the other one says, “I was just thinking the same thing.” While Piper says this is the least common way of God's leading in the NT, it is common in our household. 

I can rest in God's goodness whatever method He uses to reveal His will. Some will seem like a mystery, yet God is good — always. His will is always against the desires of my old nature. This is easier to discern because of that conflict. At times it will be a decision involving two things that both seem good. Yet the best way to know what He wants means keeping sins confessed, talking to Him with an open heart, and being willing to do whatever He says.

PRAY: I’m so thankful Lord that You desire my good along with Your glory and can make those two things work together. You continually put me in awe with Your love and great wisdom. Today is going to be another day of seeing Your will worked out to do both. I’m happy to let You go first.

The key to His goodness

 

Yesterday I asked my husband how marriages would be different if both husband and wife were always filled with the Spirit? We agreed — no conflicts ever.

At the request of a friend, I read a book in which the author didn’t understand that concept and gave a long history of the results of men and women in conflict over who is the boss. Without the Holy Spirit, this battle will continue; with Him there is no battle.

Piper gives testimony to the unity in his church between him, his wife, and the church leaders. He says that they all have the same “husband” who is Jesus Christ. As their first commitment and common allegiance, there is no competition. All three hear the same voice and the Holy Spirit is the secret of their unity. He is their peacemaker and the power behind their desires and ideas.

In another reading, another pastor said the same things, then added the way it happens and how God works to bring that understanding. He quoted:

Then (Jesus) said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44–47)

This man’s prayer was that God would open his eyes and the eyes of all Christians to see Jesus everywhere in the Bible, to read the law of Moses, the Prophets, and the psalms with Jesus clearly in view.

He also confessed that for years he thought the law was only as a bunch of rules and principles for earning God’s favor and blessings and managing his life. Finally he understood they were given to drive him to Jesus. The law has never been a way to earn God's acceptance. Any efforts without the Holy Spirit are futile and frustrating.

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)

Jesus fulfilled the law for us by His perfect obedience, and exhausted its judgment by His death. I have life because of His life. I cannot boast, just as I cannot do well without Him.
I’m reading the prophets but without fear of judgment for I see them the same way: those who listen and obey are able to walk in harmony with God. Those who do not will experience the consequences. He gave the “rules” to us for the same reason He gives us the “rules” in the NT — to show how badly we need to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Otherwise, we cannot obey Him, nor be like Him. Life in the flesh is doing our own thing — and that is sin.

Jesus is the “Yes” and “Amen” to every promise God has made. With Him, we can do it. In ourselves, we fall short. Reading the Bible is the way God reveals this. Of course I often learn through experience and its failures, but unless God opens my mind to understand the Scriptures, I will not ‘get it’ and be in the dark about why my life gets messed up. Too often I’ve lived my own way and made so many mistakes. Selfishness is a perfect way to be miserable.

PRAY: Jesus, continue to open my mind to understand how the entire Bible is a revelation of the gospel, of You and Your commitment to redeem Your people and restore the world. Show me more of you and my place in Your story. I’ve learned that all things are intended to transform me into Your image. That is entirely awesome. Even being able to listen to Your voice and do what You say is a great wonder. I’m deeply humbled that You transform sinners such as I to do Your will. I am overjoyed too, at such love and grace. You are incredible — and that also comes from You being willing to reveal Yourself to me. Amen.

A Vital Truth

 

After years of reading through the Bible and the past two years of reading Stephen Charnock’s incredible book on the attributes of God, I’m noticing one spiritual truth that seldom is preached or taught. I’m also noticing that out of that omission comes many misguided notions about God and about ourselves and our responses (or not) to His Word.

What seems to be absent is clarity on the meaning and application of this passage:

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:13–26, italics mine)

This is not a new teaching. The prophets spoke to God’s OT saints about their inability to please God because they were not filled with the Spirit, and were instead walking in the flesh.

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23)
For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice. Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.” (Jeremiah 11:7–8)
But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive. (Jeremiah 13:17)

This distinction is connected to the “rules” in the NT that are intended to show the difference made when walking in the Spirit or not. One application concerns prayer:

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:3–4)

God also told His people that they were set free from bondage in Egypt, but He had to give them “rules” because they were not living like they should. Isaiah defines sin as simply doing our own thing rather than obeying God. 

The NT picks up on that. We are set free from sin when we are born-again, then told to be Spirit-filled so we can obey Him. However, far too many do not realize how that works, or that  fleshy activity is really doing our own thing. It is only when selfish living deepens into grossly  immoral or illegal action that we call it sin, but seldom is “I will do it myself” called sin like it was called in the OT. For that reason, the NT is also filled with “rules” about how to live as a person set free from sin… we should know what it means to walk in the Spirit or at least know when we are not and confess it (see 1 John 1:9).

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

The biblical truth that I should do all things for God and His glory. This includes giving thanks rooted in the excellency of the Giver rather than merely for His good gifts. If gratitude is more about answered prayer and personal comforts and desires, it is likely disguised idolatry. This is one example only. If the fruit of the Spirit is absent, something needs to be confessed.

PRAY: God grant me a heart to delight in You for who You are — so all my gratitude for Your gifts, all my decisions, words, actions and motivations are for Your glory — and I will not twist any of it to make myself the focus and dismiss or forget Your excellence. Amen.  

Thankfulness?

Today I have the privilege of delivering an answer to prayer. A refugee we know was a tailor in his home country, but his lack of English skills prevent him from employment here. Instead, he is sewing garments for those who cannot find or afford the styles they want to wear. He needed a new machine and God directed me to a friend who gave him the exact model he hoped for. It required an accessory which has also been gifted to him and I am delighted to deliver it.

This man is thankful, not only to the donor that made this possible, but to the good and sovereign God that he worships. Being thankful is an important virtue. Those who are not grateful stand on a slippery slope easily sliding into sinful idolatry. Yet those who give thanks also need to remember the One who is the source of all goodness and give thanks.

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. (James 1:17)

Jonathan Edwards said this about gratitude: “True gratitude or thankfulness to God for his kindness to us, arises from a foundation laid before, of love to God for what he is in himself; whereas a natural gratitude has no such antecedent foundation. The gracious stirrings of grateful affection to God, for kindness received, always are from a stock of love already in the heart, established in the first place on other grounds, viz. God’s own excellency.”

Piper explains that God is pleased when our first delight is the beauty and excellency of God’s character, not merely in the delight of His benefits. This is a subtle thing, yet I am aware how easily I can miss it and make the gift my focus rather than the Giver.

If I gave a gift to someone and they thanked me often for it but had no regard for me, I would feel insulted or at least disappointed — no matter how much that person said thanks. If my character or generosity did not give that person joy in being with me, I might feel used, as if I didn’t matter and was just a delivery person. 

I know the difference. God wants to be the foundation of my gratitude. This can happen only because of the Holy Spirit and the new life I have in Christ. Otherwise, offering thanksgiving is just an emotion that happens totally apart from loving the Giver. True gratitude thinks of the goodness of God — yet does not leave out joy in His gifts.

When we delivered that sewing machine, I remarked on the goodness of God. Then the man who received it said, “God is good all the time.” When we visited his home last week, one of his adult sons said the same thing. “God is good all the time.” Their example illustrates the point: delight in God is true gratitude.

PRAY: Jesus, I thank You for this family whose hearts are so filled with love for You that they would give thanks even if their dad had to keep using his beat-up old machine without getting this new model that You so graciously supplied. This is a good example that models worship of You and contentment, rather than relying on Your blessings to urge thankfulness. You truly are good — all the time. It is also true that You are not glorified if the foundation of my gratitude is the worth of Your gifts and not the excellency of You, the One who gives all good things. Amen.

 

A Most Wonderful Imagining…

Yesterday I noticed this verse: “The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 65:25) and commented to hubby that it looks like there will be animals in the hereafter.

Children want their pets to be there. I hope for color and creativity. We all look forward to seeing those who have gone before us. This morning I read Phil Callaway’s devotional and he wondered if there would be golf courses there. Maybe every shot a hole-in-one?

The apostle Paul said, “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (Philippians 1:23) He knew that God “has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and that, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Yet there are clues, like the verses about lions and lambs and the promise of being with Jesus forever. And at times the longing for such perfections is great. Callaway rightly says that only Jesus Christ can truly satisfy our thirst. He quotes C.S. Lewis: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Along with these writers, I also wonder how God feels when He sees us hanging on so tightly to this life with its short-lived pleasures. Callaway calls them “a gopher-infested golf course with sand greens like the ones I played on as a kid” and how some seem to dread the home Jesus  has been creating and how it is “a little like trying to explain the pleasures of driving a Ferrari to a two-year-old who would rather play with a cardboard box.”

I don’t care much if there is golf in heaven. I know there is food and likely that includes chocolate? Maybe pizza? Maybe colors I’ve never seen yet? Will I quilt or draw there? I don’t know. 

But I do know this: all that I’ve enjoyed here will not be on my mind when I see Jesus with His arms outstretched to welcome me home. Life with Him will satisfy every desire — forever.

PRAY: Thoughts of heaven are like mental trips to the mountains, or the seashore, or watching a stupendous sunset, or riding an Arab stallion, or painting a masterpiece, or winning a Pulitzer, or watching children at play, or seeing my entire family worshiping You — and You tell me that my heart has not imagined what You have prepared for me. Life here is often an incredible lovely surprise. Heaven will be better? You said it and the joy of knowing that holds me until that day. . . .  Amen.

Consider the source…

A family we know loves to tell stories that they make up. some see them as pranks and humor and laugh at some of the results. Others believe the stories and when they realize they were just stories, they see this family as a bunch of liars. Who is making the right judgment? 

Only God knows the heart and what motivates anything we do. I’m not good at figuring out my own heart so realize the importance of avoiding quick judgments. Yet even as I write this, I realize how easily mistakes can be made. Yesterday someone sent me a description of a person recently in the news. I don’t know that person nor have never heard him speak but I trusted the evaluation sent to me because I know and trust the sender. 

The description was of a powerful man of God. However, last night I read on social media the opposite opinion. According to that description of the same man, he was evil, a trouble-maker, and not anything like the first opinion. I prayed about this, not that it matters to me personally, but wondered how to think after reading both views. 

Charnock gave some light. He writes how those who reject God as Creator also reject Him as authority. If someone defames a Christian, it might be because they have believed in evolution and God (if He exists) has no right to tell them how to live.

Charnock adds that our Creator has a natural dominion over us as creatures before He has a dominion by consent over us as converts. We are like that too. When we create something, we have a right of possessing what we make. We can either cherish it or dash it in pieces, add to it or deface it. This means the first cause of everything has dominion. Those who agree with God, worship Him for this. Those who don’t will resent and even hate it and those who proclaims it. These verses come to mind:

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:3–5)
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man... (Acts 17:24)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools... (Romans 1:18–22)

God surprised me in my daily reading through the Bible by the passage that was next. He says this about the huge rift between believers and those who do not:

The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman. Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit, (Isaiah 57:1–4)

He later reminds people how He has held His peace for a long time, yet they do not fear Him, but go on in their own way. Yet He tells all that there is another way: “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear.” Deadness happens because “iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled. . . .  your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. . . . The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.” (Isaiah 59:1-4; 8)

PRAY: Oh Lord, those who hate You will protest and persecute those who love You and whoever convicts them of sin. Yet those who stand up for You can offend others, by shouting “Turn or burn” rather than “Jesus loves You and died for You” — both are true, yet speaking the truth in love is a NT command, even though gentle words can be rejected just as strong warnings can be rejected. You are Lord. May Your truth prevail. Amen.
 

Memories…

When mom was in the initial stage of memory loss, she accepted it. This made it easy to talk about. I told her that I didn’t think much about the past, so if I lost my short-term memory, my mind would be a total blank. She laughed with me.

Today’s devotional is a reminder that memories of the past can be valuable. If I remember what God has done, discouragement takes a hike. Remembering that God is God is also strength during hard times. Thoughts of past failures can affect humility and remembering what He has taught me should keep me from making the same mistakes. 

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:11–12)

While I do not like to remember struggles, this also has purpose with current difficulties because I remember how God brought me through:

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. (Hebrews 10:32–33)

Other memories are not personal, but come from historical records and remind me that the news of today is not so different from former tragedies and remind me also that the Lord who brought His people through difficulties in the past can do it again.

For instance, in 1893 the Philadelphia and Reading Railroads filed for bankruptcy, great financial trusts began to collapse, and 500 banks failed. The next year 142 more banks failed, one-quarter of all heavy industry was idle, in one seventeen-day period in January there was an eleven-million-dollar run on the gold of the federal treasury. Not only that, a forest fire near Hinkley, Minnesota, destroyed 160,000 acres and killed 400 people.

Other events, like two world wars plus a host of weather-related tragedies, accidents, crashes, and crime can shake faith, yet God's promises still hold and are still a comfort in the times of storms. He says:

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. (Isaiah 43:18–21)

Some call the Christian’s future hope “pie-in-the-sky” yet without it, how do we keep going? Those who know Jesus are usually not among those who fall into deep despair and jump out windows or take too many pills to escape their unbearable situation.

PRAY: While it is good to remember Your power and goodness, I also like the advice to not remember former things, but dwell on the glory that is to come. Bad memories can sometimes make me feel like quitting. Future hope never does that, even when my future hope is based on Your past promises and faithfulness. Thank You for the memories and the ability to sort them out and put them where they best belong. 

Wisdom Needed

 

Since realizing I’ve a touch of both ADHD and autism, I can see more clearly how these affect life. For one thing, people with autism tend to not read other people very well, so some of them will over-analyze in the attempt to understand. I do that, yet for a long time thought that meant I was understanding others. But much research and making a long list of possibilities is not the same as getting it right. 

This also explains the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowing a lot of facts is not the same as knowing what to do with that information. Wisdom goes farther and becomes action. 

Proverbs states this difference many times and the NT gives this example:

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:1–3)

Being filled with information about any topic could make me an expert in that topic, yet “expert” is sometimes humorously defined as ex means a “has-been” and “pert” means “a drip under pressure.” The above verse says why this is likely — knowledge can puff me up. 

Puff is from a Greek word that means to inflate, be proud, arrogant, haughty. Not at all like Jesus, even though He knows all things. In other words, if I make ‘gathering information’ my goal in life, I will mess with God’s goal of transforming me into the image of His Son. However, because of what Jesus has done, wisdom is available to me. All I have to do is ask God for it:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

This morning I read a prayer that could sound like autism, but certainly sounds like humility. The author tells of matters that confuse him then asks God to show him the difference between a healthy costly investment in people’s lives versus an unhealthy entanglement and becoming enmeshed. He knows he should love as Jesus loves, but sometimes does not know what that looks like. I can relate to this request. He asks for wisdom to discern the difference between rightly validating the emotions of others and trying to “fix” them rather than love them. I relate to this also.

He also asks for wisdom about his own emotions. His list is not the same as mine, yet I also wonder why some things frustrate me one day and not the next, or not today but will tomorrow. He asks for help to listen to others and understand, rather than rushing to judgment or rush out of their story too fast.

PRAY: Dear Lord, just knowing You will give wisdom to those who ask is such a comfort. However, too often my pride gets in the way and I fumble with making a search for more knowledge only to wind up with a to-do list of choices rather than Your wise choice. I am so thankful for this reminder that You grant wisdom freely and generously. I do long for the time when terror is terrified and there will be no more tears, or brokenness or barrenness, or  heartaches or even heartburn, and no more human trafficking or even human tooth decay, no more war or even aggravation, no more evil or even envy, no more poverty or even pouting, and no more “not yet,” “not enough,” or “not now.” Those things I know and understand to be my hope. Grant me the wisdom to live in what are now the perplexities and negatives of this current life along with my current tests and trials. May You grant me the knowledge I need and the wisdom to know what to do with it, but most of all the grace to obey whatever You say to me. Amen.

Subtle boasting exposed

At times my mind works like a story-telling uncle whose thoughts rambled from A to B to XYZ and finally back to C. This happened today and my devotions rambled until thoughts finally added up and made sense. Easy for me, but difficult and shameful to describe.

First, I remembered a new believer in her late nineties who didn’t tell her family she finally trusted Christ. They had shared the gospel with her for years, but she did not tell her family she now believed. I told them, then suggested they change their words to suit a person new to the faith.

Then I read today’s devotional in which the author said Jesus motivated godly behavior by telling them the hope of being with God in heaven, and motivated radical purity with the fear of torment in hell. He added that for Jesus, a desire for heaven and a fear of hell were practical, daily parts of living a holy life. 

I don’t see Jesus doing that. Instead, His words depended on who He was talking to. Those with faith heard encouragement to live out their faith. Those who didn’t believe were reminded of the consequences. The reason for this distinction is that there is no danger of going to hell for those with genuine saving faith.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1–2)
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (John 10:28–29)
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

That reminded me of a church I once attended that taught salvation was my decision and I could decide to not trust God and change my destination. This teaching says I am ruler of my life rather than Jesus being Lord and Savior. I was a new Christian at the time, but was certain this thinking put me on the throne instead of Jesus. 

Since the OT defines sin like this: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) I knew that going my own way was not only vanity and pride, but also sin. Besides that, the NT is filled with the gospel of salvation by faith. While I am told to believe, it says that both salvation and faith are God’s gift, not my doing. 

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)

Boasting is ruled out because I would not and could not do this by myself: 

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)

Then my mind took another leap to thinking about how even as a saved and secure child of God, this “doing my own way” too easily creeps into everything. And God startled me with another truth that was like a wallop on the side of my head. I realize at that moment that I can boast about what God is doing in my life but instead of putting the emphasis on God, put it on “in my life” as if I am now doing so good that I’ve earned all this blessing and answered prayer. DUH. How twisted to use God’s goodness as an ego trip.

At that, I then realized that it is easier to brag about His favor than to boast about my weaknesses. Even though Jesus spoke of hell to those without faith, He reminded me of what I am saved from, and that I don’t do any of that saving myself. I have nothing to boast about. Instead of humility, I have used His glory to build my ego. Shame on me.

PRAY: Jesus, this pride thing pops up. You are kind to me — I’m proud of that, as if I deserve it. You hear and answer prayer — I boast of that, as if I’m special. You surprise me with Your goodness — I boast of that, as if You treat me better than others. Sigh. You will humble those who exalt themselves. My pride is not from You and is a deception and a dangerous sin. Purify my heart. . . .