Dead to old, alive to new…

Today’s devotional offers a good illustration of what it means to be dead to my old life and living in the new. When I was a child, I loved to make little rooms in the forest beside our house, ride horses, play with our dogs, and play all day. I did not like housework, especially dusting and was not interested in cooking. But when I became an adult woman, my feelings were reversed and I enjoyed the things I once avoided and could not be bothered with the things I once loved.

In other words, I “took up the cross” to my childish play and no longer wanted to do those things. I became delighted in the pursuits of maturity and left behind the pleasures of childhood. While this is not a perfect illustration (I still love horses and hate dusting), it does illustrate what it means to take up the cross and die to my old life and live the new life.

Some Christians look at the Christian life as a child might view the adult life — thinking it means giving up the things they love and to do the things they hate. They call this “taking up the cross” and actually think God enjoys their grudging service. However, this idea totally misses what Jesus meant when He said:

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

When God saved me, I entered His family as a babe in Christ. As the Bible says, I needed to grow up through realizing the goodness of God. He is not a mean taskmaster:

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2–3)

Perhaps the problem with those who think that doing the will of God is “grudging service” that gives up everything they enjoy is that they have not spent enough time in the Word of God (pure spiritual milk) to taste His incredible goodness. Or it could be that they are clinging to the ‘playtime’ of their former life, preferring to stay in control of what they want to do instead of submitting to the good will of God. This submission is a choice — to turn from that worldly way of thinking and allowing God to transform my mind. In that process, I learn that His will is good, more than acceptable, even perfect.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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 12:1–2)

As the devotional says, and as He is teaching me, if my affections are set on the will of God, I will love it. If I love it, then how can it seem a great burden? This means saying what David said and what Jesus repeated:

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (John 4:34)

God wants me set on His will and delighting in it. This is possible as my new life in Christ changed my heart. I now recognize that I am dead to anything that is contrary to Jesus. This is my cross — that recognition that I am dead to the world and alive only in Christ. How heavy that cross can be is determined by how mature I am in Christ.

PRAY: Today’s ‘cross’ is being dead to my plans that I can do God’s will in taking care of my husband. His pain is severe and he cannot do small things, like pick up a dropped pencil or reach something at the other end of the sofa. I’m dead to my I-wants on my to-do list and alive to the will of God that urges me to pick up or reach or do whatever is needed for my hubby. Because of You, loving Your will (and loving my husband) makes that cross a great deal lighter!

God’s will for me — thankfulness

This morning I awoke from a dream that concerned the deepest blanks (for want of a better word) in my life. The dream was vivid enough that I felt as if my footing had been yanked from under my feet. I’ve had these dreams before and the emotions that rise up have the ability to ruin an entire day. 

But God had another plan. This time I’d just finished reading “Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. The parts of the book that affected me the most were stories of people in horrible circumstances such as persecution, pillage and rape who were thankful to God for all good things, regardless of what was happening to them.

So as soon as God brought this to mind, I gave thanks. I thought of many good things that He has used to fill in the blanks, including His own dear Self. Had I not experienced those losses and pain, I may not be experiencing Jesus. My emotions immediately became more positive. 

Then God kicked it up another notch. Today’s devotional is from this passage from the New Testament:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

The reading that goes with it is so wonderful that I am tempted to simple reproduce it word for word. Instead, I will put my own thoughts under the author’s headings as the Lord causes me again to consider the value of thankfulness.

It quells preoccupation with painful memories. I am prone to drop into a mood of sorrow and complaint over events that are long past, thinking I have had such a rough go of it in life. I get annoyed with myself for thinking this way and would like to stop this habit. I know that the best antidote is being in the habit of thankfulness to God. I’ve also noticed that when I can say thanks, even in the middle of such a complaint, I often laugh aloud at my silly brooding.

Thankfulness soothes my distress. Occasionally I notice that I like feeling sorry for myself and don’t want to remember past joys or be comforted by them. If complaints about the past are foolish, this self-torture is even more ridiculous. Thankful thoughts and words change the memory of happier times into a comfort and brings a totally opposite attitude to that nasty self-pity. It cannot stay in the same room with thankfulness.

Thankfulness relieves anxiety. One of my favorite promises from God is this: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7). Preventing and relieving anxiety happens as soon as I pray about the problem with an attitude and words of thanksgiving. Not only that, God replaces my worries with His deep and incomprehensible peace.

Thankfulness reminds me what God as done and softens my heart. Sometimes I get in a nasty mood of entitlement, thinking I deserve better than what I have. However, when I am thankfully recalling the mercy of my heavenly Father, I remember what would happen if I got what I deserve. How can anyone gripe at the foot of the Cross or not be thankful when recognizing God’s grace, a mercy unearned and never deserved?

Thankfulness heightens hope. When I pause to be grateful for past mercies, I am better able to look forward in hope. No matter how deep the sorrows of the past, God has used them for good. Thankfulness helps me remember and set my eyes on His promises for the future. 

Thankfulness strengthens me. When I am thankful, I have more energy and am in a better, more cheerful mood. I feel stronger, more able to deal with whatever is before me. Others would rather be around me when my attitude is positive and cheerful and at its best because of a thankful heart. 

I’m amazed at (and thankful for) God’s timing with this dream and this devotional. After reading DeMoss’ book, I prayed that He would help me be more thankful with the tough stuff. Since thankfulness is “is the will of God in Christ Jesus” for me, I should not be surprised how quickly He is to oblige.

Waiting on God for my to-do list

Often, the will of God is clear. I know what I should do, at least in a general sense, and what activities to avoid. Yet when it comes to specifics, like picking a topic for Bible study, or getting involved in an area of need, I am not always certain. If I watch a movie about the terrible conditions in prison, I wonder if God wants me to support prison reform. If I read a book about child poverty, I wonder if that should be on my priority list. There are so many needs. One person cannot cover all of them. I’m having questions about what God wants me to do.
 

This morning, my devotional reading directs me to a verse about Christian ministry. Note, good works are not to earn or deserve salvation, but are a result of being transformed by the grace of God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

I used to think this was a specific set of activities and ministry that God had lined up for me, but now I’m not so sure. A great sermon on the will of God points to all the verses that use those words, and ends up by saying that if I am saved, sanctified, saying thanks and obedient to those verses, then I can do whatever I want. The reason? Because my delight is in God, He will put desires in my heart, desires that indicate the work that He wants for me.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Part of delighting in the Lord is putting off the old sinful way of life and putting on the new life I have in Jesus Christ. “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22–24).

It seems that God isn’t as interested in my to-do list as He is in how I do it. He choose me to “be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:4) and “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

He even says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and whatever I do, in word or deed, it is to be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). I am, in whatever I do, to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

So far, the “delight in the Lord” part is in place, but for “the desires of my heart” are still a bit muddled.

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Lord, I’m trying to make plans, but know that You say I am to wait on You and trust You with all my heart, not relying on my own understanding. If I acknowledge You in everything, You will give me clear directions and a straight path (Proverbs 3:5–6). It is the waiting part that is hard.

Priorities and to-do lists

While having money is not a sin, loving it and loving all it can buy is not God’s idea. Like everything else that God gives, money is His property, not mine. In fact, I am not an owner but a steward. How can a steward use her Master’s property for herself?

Not only that, throughout the Bible God warns against greed and selfishness. He tells His people that their lives will not prosper if they get their priorities backwards. This means that if I am going to live for Him, I need to consider what He has to say about money and ownership and having stuff.

I also need to consider my priorities. What is most important in God’s mind? Do I fritter away my hours doing what pleases me? Doing what has no bearing on His kingdom? Or has He other plans?

For instance, back in 525 BC or thereabouts, He wanted His temple rebuilt. Instead of getting on that, God’s people were building “paneled houses” for themselves. God said to them:

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors. (Haggai 1:7–11)

This short passage tells me a great deal about God’s priorities. His house was more important than their houses. He was pleased with this place of worship and that He was glorified in that place. Their obedience to rebuild it was more important than their personal homes and personal success. While it was not wrong that they had nice houses, it was sin to leave their place of worship in ruins while they furthered their own desires.

Today, God’s dwelling place is not in a building, but in each of His people. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Construction of this temple means giving full attention to spiritual growth and Christian maturity. This comes first, above any other kind of success. God is more concerned that I am a godly person who lives in obedience to Him than I sell books, make beautiful art, or become successful in the eyes of the world in any other endeavor. He also wants me to be pure, keep myself from sin, and not allow spiritual ruin of any kind. When I, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” He promises that, “all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Also, Christians collectively are the temple of God. Ephesians 2:21–22 says that in Christ, “the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

This means that the people of God and our collective spiritual health is more important than my personal well-being. I am to live like Jesus lived by putting others first and giving attention to the spiritual health of the Body of Christ. This means I am to, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than (myself), looking not only to (my) own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3–4)

As I read these verses and compare them to my to-do list, I can usually see what needs to happen first, yet there are also verses that tell me to take care of my home and family. For instance, 

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:3–5)

Even as these verses are about mentoring others, they are also about my own obedience toward home and family responsibilities. I am to work at home and care for my family, in love and yielded to the will of God. For me, this is primary. I can easily get caught up in all sorts of other things and not bother with the boring, like cleaning bathrooms and weeding the garden.

Every day brings choices. Every day God encourages me to put Him first, talk to Him first, not only first in the morning but before all choices, even before doing those other things that are clearly His will. I need His advice, strength, encouragement and guidance. After all, I am a steward, and stewards are custodians. In all things, the Master has the final say.

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Father, people say Your Word is an old book and not relevant these days. They have no idea how much You help Your people with decisions and daily choices. I want my life to have significance, yet realize how much the world’s way of measuring success is flawed and self-centered. Eternal significance is achieved only by doing Your will, from the heart. My actions may be flawed and often seem insignificant, but if done in obedience, then faith tells me that You will give them lasting value.

Walking in the Light He gives

In making decisions and seeking the will of God, my husband often says, “He doesn’t leave a note on the night table.”

He is right. Even though entire books have been written on how to know the will of God, Christians are often puzzled in trying to find out what God wants from us. Some verses in the Bible clearly say, “This is the will of God. . . . ” then go on to describe some aspect of what He desires, yet many of these are general, not specific. We have questions like: Where do we live? What school should I go to? Which job offer do I accept?

The biggest problem I have with seeking the will of God is my own I-wants and the opinions of others so easily interfere. I cannot hear God because these other voices drown Him out. Yet in all of that, one verse gives me a great deal of instruction. For a long time I’ve read it in a general way, but this morning I see how to use it specifically.

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)

If I cannot figure out the will of God for specific questions or issues, perhaps it is because I am thinking like the world thinks. That is, I measure the pros and cons by what will make me the most comfortable, give me the most control, use my skills to best advantage, and reward me with the best return. By doing this mental hoop-jumping, my focus makes the choices all about me.

The will of God is not all about me. It is about overcoming sin and loving others. Romans 12 begins by telling me to present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is my spiritual worship. After the next verse on mind renewal and its importance in knowing God’s will, it says to watch my attitude toward myself (no pride) and to use the gifts God has given me. Then it says . . . 

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:9–18)

Most of these verses are about dealing with sin, loving others and serving the Lord God with a godly attitude. Clearly God’s will is general in the sense that He wants me to do everything in a Christlike way. That I understand. But the specifics of the to-do list can be confusing. What order? What is least important? Should some things be scratched off? Others added?

As I read Romans 12:2, the Holy Spirit poked me with this thought: What is on your list because of a worldly attitude, because of your need for a renewed mind? Are you trying to make choices because you are thinking like those who do not know me?

This gets my attention. For example, I have taken on ministry projects because the role became vacant and they were not being very well done. I thought I could do the job in a more effective way. My prideful attitude resulted in many hard lessons about serving others before I finally realized that my motivation was not God’s will.

God says His choices are not based on our wisdom and skills. Instead, He looks for those who will obey Him. Knowing His will is not about measuring myself according to what I can do, or what I think I can do, or even what others think I can do. It is about doing what He asks.

This is something like walking a dark path with a flashlight. The only clearly defined steps are the ones right in front of me. As I move into that well-lit part of the path, the flashlight moves to the next step and the next. If I stop and refuse to go farther, then I cannot see farther.

When author and missionary Elizabeth Elliot was asked how she managed her time. She said, “I do the next thing. I almost always know what that is.”

She is right. While the next thing could be difficult, or seem not very important, or even be an interruption or unexpected issue, I always know what needs to be done. My problem is never that, but with wanting to see farther than the flashlight shines. I want to make a life-plan, or at least a week-plan or sometimes just a plan for the day. So I make out my list, but at the same time am so very aware that I do not control what happens next.

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

The world’s way is being able to see what is ahead and prepare for it. The Lord’s will is that I walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Him for the next step. The world’s way is order and confidence, making plans with goals and clearly outlined procedures to reach those goals. While God is not the author of confusion, His way is not about an orderly and prioritized to-do list, but to keep my eyes on Jesus and my ears tuned to His voice. I’m to do what He says, regardless whether or not it fits my desires, or any structure or visible procedure.

From this reading today, I’m aware that I need to be cautious about making plans and decisions according to the world’s methods. Christian living is not about “what’s in it for me” or even about what makes sense to me. It is about glorifying God and obeying His commands. Examining my motives is often painful, but it is also a big part of taking that next step that will bring further light to my path.

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Lord, right now I know what You want me to do next. You invite me to prayer. After that, I know that I must do three things from my list that have deadlines and have other people depending on their completion. After that, I have lots of ideas, but Your will could be different from any of them. Give me ears to hear You and a heart to walk ahead, always moving in the light that You give me. Thank You for Your guidance and for nudging me in the direction of Your good, acceptable and perfect will.

What am I supposed to do?

In studying the will of God, I’m becoming convinced that He isn’t nearly so interested in choices about vocations, residences, even friendships as He is calling me to choose godliness, holiness, being like Jesus.

In the beginning of my walk with Christ, God gave me these verses. They have been a guide to carry me through the “all things” that could otherwise push me off track.

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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30)

These verses conclude that God’s desire for my life is that I be like His Son. His calling is to that destiny, not a career or where I live or what I choose to occupy my time each day. He this call to holiness it possible by grace, forgiveness, justification and so much more.

Spurgeon writes about His calling. He quotes 2 Timothy 1:9 to remind me that God saved me and called me to a holy calling, not because of my works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave me in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

This is “a holy calling” that forbids my trust in my own doings. It draws me to Christ alone for salvation, but it afterwards purges me from dead works to serve the living and true God. There is no mention where or how, just do it.

The Bible also says that just as the One who calls me is holy, so I must also be holy. Anyone who lives in sin is not called, but those who are truly Christ’s are anxious and stressed over sin, desiring to be rid of it and asking the Lord for grace to be holy. 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13–14)

This is an upward call, a call toward godliness. Again, the Scriptures say very little about what I might choose to do with my life here in this world. I can be a writer or an artist, an engineer or a maid. God isn’t as concerned about those choices as He is that I am holy, that my heart is set upon heavenly things. He wants my hopes, tastes and desires to do with that which is eternal, not occupied with anything that cannot be taken into glory with me.

Hebrews 3:1 calls this a “heavenly calling” which is from there and to there. I “look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” because I am a “stranger and pilgrim upon the earth.” My literal occupation is secondary to the occupation of my heart and mind and spirit.

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Father, I’ve been unnecessarily stressed over what I should do with the rest of my life. I could concentrate on one thing or try to do several. I’ve wrestled with these choices and have heard no clear direction from You except this — You want me to be like Jesus in whatever I do. The doing is not as important as the being. As I think about this, I sense that You want this priority totally in place before offering me guidance on anything else. Thank You.