What I really need…

 

Every morning the news brings stories of great tragedies and often great nonsense. As I read Proverbs this morning, these verses touched my thoughts about some of this news and the motivations that cause it:

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. (Proverbs 14:15)
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (Proverbs 14:18)
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23)
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. (Proverbs 14:30)

Some of the world’s leaders seem to think that they are above anyone else’s ideas. And there are people who believe everything they hear without checking out the facts. Otherwise social media would have fewer postings. On a larger scale, political leaders need to respect the advice of others without going off on their own and creating chaos. 

The last two speak to me as well. I can talk all day about how much work I have, but talking does not get it done. For me, ‘poverty’ is life without any accomplishments just as much as it is life without money or other resources. Talk will not do it for me or for anyone else. Sweat and effort are required.

Last night I was tired and feeling overwhelmed. While some of the things on that to-do list are self-imposed, it seemed I will not live long enough to deal with so many responsibilities. I felt quite stressed and prayed that God would grant me peace of mind. This morning the first answer was this, the verse for today on Logos:

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

Then I read the one above from Proverbs 14, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot” and hear the Holy Spirit telling me two things. One: Rest in the presence of the Lord and Two: watch my motivations for what I am doing. If envy is there, it will kill me.

This may seem like a simple thing to some, but anyone involved in creative activity is subject to the temptation of envy. I am a quilter. I belong to one large guild and two small groups. It is easy to fall into the sin of comparing myself with others in these groups. One of them praises me for my creativity and the other one makes me feel as if I don’t have much of it.

Comparing my work with others is not a great idea. It can inspire me to do well, move me to keep working, or make me wish I could do as well or better than they do. However, the NT says:

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. (2 Corinthians 10:12)

This verse is in a passage where Paul says he is humble yet bold, humble to not walk in the flesh yet bold in the power of God. He reminds me that the confidence I should have is that I belong to Jesus. I have weaknesses and strengths, yet they are of no account. I can only feel confidence in that I am doing what God gave me to do. Paul winds up saying:

Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17–18)

I’ve some clues that the people I sometimes envy also envy me. How silly we are. To each God gives gifts that He uses to bring glory to Himself. This means that all that is on my list may or may not be from Him, but getting it done isn’t so I can gleefully put a check mark on the list, but so He can somehow be glorified. Part of that will be the display of a tranquil heart, rather than a frantic feeling of envy that pushes me to try and do more than He asks.

PRAY: Jesus, forgive my sinful comparing — for it takes my eyes and motivations off You and puts me on a competitive mode that does not glorify You. Resting in You changes all that, and being content says far more about Your grace and power that winning a frantic race of accomplishment. Thanks for Your reminders and these words that change anxiety to peace. Amen.

Don’t Worry — Exercise Faith

I’m stressed with large tasks on my to-do list that I have no idea how to accomplish. Today, God speaks to my worries, not by solving them but by pointing to the root problem.

He reminds me that eternal life begins with faith, and that faith is not only the beginning but the characteristic of eternal living. I know that faith is the foundation of being a Christian because it affects where I go when I die, but it also affects what I do while I am here. This passage begins a description of those who lived by faith and shows me what that means for my life:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:1–6)

This passage says that faith is just knowing. I cannot see God or eternity but faith is the conviction that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith is also a gift. It is not conjured up without the Holy Spirit granting it. This faith knows that God is creator, no matter what people without faith decide. It also offers to God what God asks, not what human thinking supposes He wants. Faith knows that God can do whatever He wants to do. It also knows that death is not the end.

Abraham is an OT example of faith, but James gives one more example:

In the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead (James 2:25–26).

Rahab was a Gentile, a prostitute, a liar, and lived in the pagan city of Jericho. How could such a person illustrate true faith? Unlike the Jews, she didn’t know much about God, but what she knew, she believed, and what she believed, she acted on. She said to the Israeli spies:

“I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:9–11)

Faith and obedience are partners. If anyone believes God, Jew or Gentile, man or woman, an Abraham or a Rahab — if faith is there, so is obeying God. It begins a life of walking with Him. I believed and was adopted into His family. I believe and that faith is involved in all of life, where I go, what I do, how I speak and behave.

The Bible calls me to make sure I have a living faith, not only for salvation but in all of life. Am I believing God and relying on Him for wisdom in relationships? For words when called upon to speak? For ideas when I design a quilt? For help in writing job descriptions? For guidance in planning a family reunion? Or plan a brainstorming session? Or for being salt and light in the people I meet? Living faith and obedience go hand in hand, otherwise the ‘faith’ I claim is dead and useless.

PRAY: Jesus, I realize that dead faith is like offering pious words to the needy but refusing to meet their needs. It is like demons who believe the truth about God but are eternally lost. A living faith is vibrant, exciting, and often very scary. The devil whispers, ‘God does not want the best for you’ and other lies. The world believes him and shakes their fist at His sovereign rule. Living for You in this lifeless environment is a challenge yet Your grace assures me, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14) Even as I write this verse, the stresses of this day begin to fade. You are an amazing God!

PONDER: Read Matthew 7:7; 17:20; 21:21-22 and Luke 18:26-27. Compare these words to what I worry about!

 

 

 

God Speaks

Numbers 31; Psalms 75–76; Isaiah 23; 1 John 1

Almost every chapter in Numbers begins with: “The Lord spoke to Moses . . . .” which prompted a search telling me that this occurred at least 250 times in forty years of wandering in the wilderness as he led God’s people. These communications could have been daily.

Then, I did the math for myself. Allowing for errors in my hearing, after nearly fifty years of following Christ and having daily devotions, the Lord has spoken to me more than 14,000 times. I am in awe at His faithfulness. I wish I could say that I’ve always obeyed what He said to me. At the same time, with the psalmist I must say:

We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. (Psalm 75:1)

I am so grateful that I can say with John the wonder of knowing Jesus. Though I have not seen Him with my physical eyes as John and the other disciples did, He has revealed Himself to me . . . “that which I have seen and heard I proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with me; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (1 John 1:3–4, personalized)

It is good to tell others about what God says and the things He has done. My devotional book says: “The recital of what God has done is a means of grace to bring God near to his people. Believers who spend no time reviewing and pondering in their minds what God has done, whether they are alone and reading their Bibles or joining with other believers in corporate adoration, should not be surprised if they rarely sense that God is near.”

And again I am grateful. God’s nearness is an amazing blessing. Again I can say with the psalmist:

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

And I can testify to the truth of His promise to Moses: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

As for recounting His deeds, the fact of salvation is overwhelming. So also is how God gives me sweet fellowship with His people; we share Christ together and are unified in that reality regardless of other differences we might have. Also, God shows me my sinfulness so that I can know His forgiveness and know the miracle of being cleansed, of receiving a changed life. John says:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

After nearly fifty years of life with Jesus, this remains a foundational truth — that He is faithful and just and that His forgiveness is based on the sacrifice of His Son, not on anything I’ve done. Because of Jesus, God is always with me.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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 8:31–39)

APPLY: Praise His name all day long and testify all that He has done!