Long term value of being faithful . . .

It’s interesting to me that the terms ‘idealist’ and ‘perfectionist’ are often used negatively. Someone said yesterday that she was ‘picky’ about symmetry and balance, as if being that way was a flaw. Jesus told His disciples to “be perfect as Your Father in heaven is perfect.” It makes no sense to put down the seeking of perfection, at least how I would define it.

The Church in Philadelphia worked at it and their reward was huge. Jesus said to them:

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” (Revelation 3:8–12)

This church had “little power” yet they obeyed God, kept the name of Jesus, were patient in trials, and resisted false teaching. This indicates they relied on the Holy Spirit power God makes available to His people.

Jesus set before them an open door no one could shut. They were given opportunities and victory in their efforts regarding those opportunities. They may not have had much as the world regards power yet these words were from “the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens." (Revelation 3:7)

This “key of David” could refer to Isaiah 22:22, where the key of the house of David was given to Eliakim who then had access to all the wealth of the king. If that is the reference here, then Jesus is saying He has all of heaven’s wealth to make available to this church. It received no rebuke from Christ only commendation because they were willing to endure with patience.

For that, Jesus promised to keep them from the hour of trial that would come upon the whole world. This promise is a puzzle to those who think the entire church would experience a coming tribulation. This promise uses Greek words that mean to “keep from” — not the same words as “keep through” making it clear that this church would not experience that tribulation. My devotional source says that even though the church at Philadelphia would go to glory via death long before that time of trouble would come, if this church is typical of the body of Christ standing true to the faith, the promise seems to go beyond the Philadelphia church to all those who are believers in Christ with the same virtues.

The letter closes with the familiar appeal to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The promise given to the Philadelphia church and the challenge to continue to be faithful is certainly God’s Word to His whole church today and to me. In a broad sense, obedience to God will not protect me from all trials for it is through suffering that I learn obedience. Yet obedience means that I’ve learned the lessons God wants me to learn and I may not need some trials to teach them to me.

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Lord Jesus, some might fear not being able to stand if worst came to worst. Around the world, Your people are persecuted and martyred for their faith. Would that happen here? Would that happen in our city? Our lives? My life? Would I be able to keep Your Name? This reading today tells me that if I rely on the Holy Spirit, my “little strength” is not an issue. Hundreds of years of faithfulness in the church in Philadelphia tell me that You are able to keep Your people in patient endurance no matter what. I’d like to be in that number!

Today’s thankful list . . .

- joy that God can keep His people from trials.

- joy that God can keep His people in trials.

- a wonderful sermon this morning about receiving a pure heart.

- brunch with several friends.

- time to tidy up my increasingly messy studio.

- good ethnic supper and the ability to skip cooking one day a week!

Off? On? Pause?

My household employs two robots. Nothing fancy. One of them will dust and wash the floors. The other is a vacuum cleaner that magically stops itself from falling downstairs and redoes edges and corners just to be sure all the dust is gone.

While people like having robots to make their work easier, no one wants to be one, even though some of us go into “automatic” mode when doing routine chores. Being a robot is not God’s choice for us either. He says this:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3–8)

This passage tells me that the Lord made full provision for my spiritual life but all the divine resources He gives do not make me a robot. I am responsible to avail myself of His blessings. Otherwise I will be “ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

My robots are not living things, yet like me, they are totally useless if I don’t plug them into a power source and push the right buttons. That is, when God calls me to serve someone, I need to get off my chair, lift my hands, move my body so I am doing what He asks me to do, relying on His power to do it.

This seems simple stuff yet it is not always that simple. The above passage mentions corruption in the world caused by sinful desire. It also mentions that faith needs to be supplemented with virtue (the word means ‘excellence’) and virtue with knowledge. That takes work. It does not come with the push of a button. Neither do the other qualities that enable Christians to be effective and fruitful. Knowing Jesus is just the beginning.

This is not new stuff, but today I need to be reminded of my responsibilities. I feel lazy, full of ‘I wants’ and not particularly eager to hear any commands from God. This is not burn out that comes from intense obedience; it is an attack of “I-don’t-want-to-it is” that comes from the flesh.

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Lord, I confess my lack of ambition toward You today. I’d do better if I was a robot, but that is not how life with You works. Prayer is needed, as is the Holy Spirit. You have done Your best. At the least, I need to push a few buttons.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- the amazing promise from God that I have all I need.

- a restful day; outside blanketed with snow and inside blanketed with a quilt.

- my hubby is purging his office file cabinets.

- another charity quilt top finished.

- a brief chat with our granddaughter in Mexico.

- leftovers and not having to cook.

The Joy of the Lord and Living Water

Parts of southern Alberta contain miles and miles of nothing. The only trees in sight of our prairie farm were those that my father planted. A small stream ran through our yard, so small that it does not show on Google Earth. Another stream wound its way from the northwest through the middle of that half section of land, becoming a small lake, or slough as we called it. Miles and miles of wheat fields looked like desert sand. 
 

West of our house, in the neighbor’s field, was what could be called an oasis. I used to ride my horse to this spot. It was a “spring” of water that flowed continually from a small pipe stuck in the ground, not enough water to bottle or satisfy a few cows, but it was just enough for me when I was hot and thirsty. A green spot on the Google Earth screen could be its location, but this was so long ago that I am not sure. I remember only that it tasted wonderful.

The Old Testament stories of God’s people often feature an oasis or a well. These were sometimes named using terms that referred to God. One such well is described in the story of Abraham’s son, Isaac.

After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi. (Genesis 25:11)

Beer-lahai-roi means a place in the desert, a well of the living One. This name reminds readers that God is our source of supply. However, like the spring I remember from my childhood, I must make the effort to go to that source.

Spurgeon wrote today’s devotional reading based on this verse. He noted that Isaac dwelt at this well and made it his constant source of supply. Spurgeon goes on to point out that the “tenor of a life is the dwelling place of his soul” and the true test of his condition. He adds encouragement to me that I must “learn to live in the presence of the living God.” 

As Spurgeon says, I need to pray that “God sees me” but also that He be as a well to me, refreshing, delightful, comforting, unfailing, springing up into eternal life. My life is like a leather water bottle that can crack and dry up, but the well or the spring of my Creator never fails. 

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Father, I’m tired this morning from the work of yesterday and even from the thought of what remains to do today. Yet the memory of that natural spring brings a peaceful joy to my heart. Ahh, the good taste of cool, pure water from a natural spring… yet how much more delight You give when I draw from Your well of Living Water, Jesus Christ. Through Him, You offer comfort and satisfaction in an abundant and constant supply, satisfying my thirst and refreshing my heart, even giving new energy to my tired and weary body. Keep me near, dwelling daily by the joy-giving well of the living God! 

(Image source)

My resource is not what I know . . .

This week I accomplished my most challenging downsizing task; I put my Bible college notes in the recycle bin. These were from a bachelor degree program in theology and Christian education that I graduated from in 1992 as a grandmother. 

It was difficult. At first, it was the memories. Those years were the best and worst of my life. College was a delight; my personal life was full of horrendous challenges. The first folder reminded me of how much I had accomplished, even under duress and great trial. Besides the memories, didn’t think I could part with an entire file drawer full of good information.

However, I had to ask myself a few questions. Will I ever use this again or even read it? Was there information that I could teach to others? 

The first day was a bust; I decided to keep it all. But the next day practicality took over. I’ve not looked at most of those notes, papers, and handouts for twenty years. We will not have space to keep them. What will my children do with them when I am gone?

My other questions were: How has God used this in my life? Have I applied all this knowledge, or did I learn it only so I could pass the exams and get the degree? The answers to these questions remain in my mind. 

God teaches me using personal interaction with Him, His Word, and the issues of life. I gain information by reading and studying, but its usefulness is not about how much I have put into my head, but about whether or not I am relying on Christ. My source of strength and fruitfulness is not in a filing cabinet, but in Him.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

The Holy Spirit reminds me also of my tendency to glory in my education. This comes from a childhood desire to prove myself, which has nothing to do with spirituality and far more to do with human pride.

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)

God isn’t interested in how much I know. He cares only that I trust and obey Him. This makes pleasing God a matter of daily faith. Besides, it puts all of us on a level playing field. Everyone from children to the aged can obey God. He does not care if I am educated or not, physically strong or not, rich or not. Those things bear no weight with Him. He wants me to do His will and He will give me whatever I need to do it — as long as I abide in Jesus Christ. 

Abiding is not learned in a textbook or a classroom. It is not about the circumstances of life, or about being rich or poor. It is learned as I already said, by personal interaction with God, spending time every day in His Word and obeying what He tells me to do. All that I genuinely know comes from the lessons of life and from the Holy Spirit who is my teacher.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12–13)

Today’s devotional reading repeats that apart from Him we can do nothing. Yet as long as I am abiding in Him, nothing is impossible. Instead of cramming information in, my one purpose should be always living in total union with Christ. Keeping a pile of paper will not do that. Instead, I must guard against everything that would break that union and use every means to keep it strong.

God and life teaches that we find His strength flowing into us for every possible situation, as long as we are abiding. This includes those times He seems gone, yet as we draw on Him, there is “no temptation we cannot master; no lack we cannot patiently bear; no difficulty with which we cannot cope; no work which we cannot perform; no confession or testimony which we cannot make.” 

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Lord, those years in Bible school taught me much, yet most of what I learned was not in the classrooms. Under the pressures of extreme trial, You showed me how to abide in You. I had to; for if not, I would self-destruct, not able to make it through each day. But You, in great faithfulness, were always right beside me. You remain so, ready to give me all that I need — with or without a filing cabinet full of notes. Forgive me for thinking that I needed them when all I need is You.