Sitting at His Feet

Yesterday was a tough day with my mind so distracted from all else but the situation with our granddaughter. Today, she will be on her way home in an airline happy to lend her a wheelchair. She will be alone — except the Lord who is always with those who suffer. For His care and presence I am so grateful. This morning He takes me to this truth, adding to my reasons to be thankful for Him:

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:21–24)

I’ve been feeling like a little child, helpless and having difficulty with the most simple of chores, yet Jesus says I am among His privileged people. He opened my eyes to know who He is and who the Father is, and that makes me blessed. Earlier His disciples were excited about their ability to cast out demons, and Jesus said to them this authority was His doing, yet, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20) 

This adds to the ‘being blessed’ list and reminds me that being a child of God is far more important than any powerful gifts or other privileges that I might have. Sometimes I feel that my service to God is very minimal but again He reminds me of the most important thing:

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42)

Sitting at Jesus feet and listening to Him is the “good” portion? We humans get so focused on visible service, even notches in our belt, yet Jesus says the most important thing is seeking His will, hearing His thoughts. The sandwiches may need to be made, but not before hearing His voice, even if it is just to know whether they should be egg salad or roast beef. He will guide me into excellence in every detail of life.

PRAY: Lord, I have been anxious to the point of feeling sick, but one thing is clear; whatever else jumps into my to-do list, first is spending time with You to make sure I know what You want before I go to the kitchen, or even before pushing a wheelchair. The needs around me, including this family crisis, are more than I can handle. I’m not asking for a few Marthas to help me, but for You to fill my heart with Your will and Your guidance, and the ability to rejoice in what You have already done — especially to include me in Your family.

Lord of Eternity

 
Months ago a relative asked me how the Bible could speak of things in the future as if they already happened. No sooner than my silent prayer for a good answer finished, God gave me something to say. I explained the difference between time and eternity. Time is for us the past, the present, and the future. However, our eternal God lives in the now. For Him, all things are now and He sees both the beginning and the end. His view covers all of what we call time and therefore He can say things like:

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (John 3:13, NKJV)

Not all versions add the last phrase, yet this thought is throughout the NT — in his deity, Jesus is omnipresent. He is also apart from time. This is seen in verses like:

Even when we were dead in trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:5–7)

How can I be both here and sitting in heavenly places? Only because God is eternal and for Him all things are now, not past, present, future. This is why we can trust the promises of God, for in His realm, they are already done.

As today’s devotional reading points out, Joshua did not say to the people, “Shout, for the Lord will give you the city,” but “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city” (Joshua 6:16). How could he say that in view of the fact that the walls of the city were still standing as massive and impregnable as ever? Yet Joshua understood that when God said something would happen, it would happen, because from God’s eternal perspective, it was already a done deal!

In other words, I can consider all the victories that God promises as a sure thing — in His realm, they are completed even before they are accomplished.

When Jesus said, “In me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) I can rest in that eternal truth. While my sin and the sin in the world is presently a foe that has yet to be conquered, in the mind of Christ, it has already been conquered. Since I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), I can also think eternally and be confident of all that He says will/has happened. This way of thinking is called faith!

PRAY: Such joy to trust You, Jesus, and to realize that anything written as if it has already happened is great evidence that You are going to accomplish all that You say. I’m already seated in heavenly places! I am assured that the mess in this world is already overcome, even though I cannot yet see that. Living in time does not negate the facts of eternity. In Your mind, the promises You make are not about the future as much as they are declarations that they have already happened! What peace and hope You give because You know both the beginning and the end of all things!

Undeserving yet blessed . . .

 

Today’s devotional begins with “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:2) and “Nothing you face today is beyond the purview of God’s grace and peace.”

How does God always come up with a line that I need to hear? Before even starting devotions, my computer Bible program would not open. I went go to the online version to read today’s message. Just then, an important person in my life called and we talked about God and spiritual  affairs for more than an hour.

So much for my time in the Word, yet God says grace and peace are still His gifts, and He pours them out! Grace is God’s goodness at Christ’s expense. All benefits and everything I need are received by grace and I am to share that goodness and grace with others in whatever way He gives it to me:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: (1 Peter 4:10)

Life is filled with God’s grace, all-sufficient yet corresponding to my need — from unexpected interruptions, to frustrations like a computer that acts up (until rebooted), to larger issues like finding out a neighbor was randomly stabbed to death, and the world is falling apart.

The NT associates grace with mercy, peace, and love. It is knowing that God’s joy can flow into and out of me, regardless of circumstances. Grace is mostly about knowing I don’t deserve any of it.

As for peace, today’s devotional says that Bible translators sought a word or phrase for ‘peace’ in the language of the Chol Indians of Mexico. Finally, they discovered the words for ‘a quiet heart’ that gave the meaning they were looking for.

This peace is a choice, at least for those who know Jesus. It is also related to being thankful, being in the Bible, having edifying relationships with other Christians, being full of joy, and being obedient:

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:15–17)

Grace gives that peace, yet I can turn it off by being annoyed rather than thankful, trying to fix my computer rather than finding another way to read my devotional book, refusing to talk/listen to someone with spiritual issues, turning on the news instead of letting God put songs in my heart, and being more concerned about my agenda instead of God’s will.

Grace (undeserved blessing) is behind the fact that peace is also a surprising gift from God:

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)

This duo of grace and peace is uncommon in those who do not know Jesus, and often missed by some who do. We need to be reminded that nothing we face is beyond His gracious gifts. I must choose to let Him bless my life rather than grumble about things that unexpectedly happen.

Jesus, You are my peace. Having You as my focus gives a peace that is not at all like the ‘peace’ that happens when everything goes the way I want it to, or the way I expect. Your grace is at work — and I need to yield to You in faith. I need to recall my mom’s mantra and make it mine. As she said, I must need this, or I would not be getting it. I thank You for grace and for the peace that comes when I yield all the negatives to Your will, remembering that You use them for my good, to build patience and to transform me to be more like You.

MORE THOUGHTS: What does the Bible say about grace and peace in these verses: John 16:33, 1 Peter 5:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:20–21? What does God desire for me?