Choose carefully. . . .

   

Last week Jesus had me doing something for a family I met that day and will likely never see again. The person who brought their need to my attention took pictures of the results. This, and the occasional time I’ve seen certain “Christian” television shows, raised a question: Is serving God a spectator sport?

Piper’s devotional raises a similar question. Is it God’s will to advance biblical truth through human institutions such as seminaries, colleges, parochial schools, mission agencies, publishing houses, journals, newsletters, hospitals, relief agencies, musical groups, drama troupes, conferences, camps, counseling centers, evangelistic associations, coffee houses, and radio and television networks, stations, and programs?

Piper reasoned that institutions by nature develop self-sustaining power as opposed to God-sustained power. There are human expectations, human employees, procedures, traditions, money, brainpower, real estate, facilities, reputation, and a constituency. These all can keep an institution going even if the Holy Spirit has withdrawn. In other words, the rules and traditions that are not part of God's will too easily become part of the way these institutions do things to the point that He is no longer the divine power behind their activities.

This happens in individual lives too, but not always and if the people are involved and growing in their faith, He will address it just as He spoke to His OT people. The danger is not so much that anyone can slide into human motivations and methods, but that the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater. We need to see opportunities rather than slide into sinful behavior.

I recall a discussion about serving God and one man said that the curling rink was his mission field. He got involved in that sport as a means to meet new people and share the gospel with them. Another said they did the same with their activities. I belong to quilt groups and realize that these are also mission fields, but also realize how easy it is to ‘enjoy the sport’ and forget about sharing Christ.

The Bible warns against relying on anything but the Lord, but does not forbid me from using outside help as He leads. These verses speak of where I must get my strength:

The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. (Psalm 33:17)
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31)

That is, institutions like those above, or sports, or even quilting can be a vehicle to share Christ, but don’t rely on the vehicle; rely on the Holy Spirit and God’s leading. He could have put me in the art world, or even into showing my horses, but His leading has me where I am. The point is to “bloom where planted” and not decide where that is or how to use it without His leading.

Piper’s point is to be aware of the line between God-ordained, Spirit-sustained institutional life and human-designed, human-sustained institutionalism. That goes for all of life, not just institutions. I can quilt to bless those who receive them or I can quilt to glorify me.

PRAY: Lord, I know the line most of the time. My current challenge is what to do or say to those who think I do this just for the enjoyment I get out of it. They have no idea that serving You brings sweat as well as joy. Yet defending that puts the focus off Your goodness too. Wisdom is always needed, as is a heartfelt reliance on You rather than feeling I should be put on a pedestal. I want You to be glorified.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:1–2)

 

Waiting on the Lord

 

In seeking God’s guidance about something on my heart, my first concern is making sure the idea is from God and not selfish ambition on my part. Knowing the difference is important:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18)

God keeps His promises and blesses me beyond my imagination. Yet at the same time, my priorities and trust need to be based on what He says, not on my grand ideas. I might want to do great things, but that might not be His choice for me. As David wrote, I need to have this attitude: 

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:1–2)

For a weaned child, the hunger is there as is the source to satisfy it, but the child is quiet, not grasping to satisfy self. I often have great ideas yet if they are not from a heart that is content to let God decide, then I’ve not yet been weaned from my selfish ambitions.

Today’s reading points out that David knew that God kept His promises but he also realized that some of His faithfulness depended on keeping his side of the covenant. God does not bless me if I am disobedient, or if I want to do something for my own glory. Piper points to this psalm of David to show my part in doing anything, even if the initial leading is from God. 

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust” Trust God and seek Him knowing He will protect me and “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me” because He is my God and because for Him “I wait all the day long.” David recalls His mercy and love, His forgiveness  and goodness. He knows, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way” and that all that happens “for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. . . . who fear the Lord. . . . “ and that “the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him” and whose “eyes are ever toward the Lord.” God will deliver and protect him because he “takes refuge in Him” and “waits for Him.” (Psalm 25)

David is certain of God’s promises and that He desires my faith. If I am walking in the flesh, His priority is to correct that. If my doubts come from that Liar, the accuser of God’s people, God knows that too and will protect me. My part is to wait on the Lord and keep my heart soft and trusting Him, not filled with ambitious ‘I wants’ that cloud my judgment, nor let all those fleshy excuses be a reason for not trusting Him or obeying any tall order that He might give me.

This psalm says He will pluck my feet out of the net, turn to me and be gracious to me, bring me out of my distresses, consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Hw will also consider my foes, and the hatred of any enemies, guard my soul, and deliver me, let me not be put to shame, and redeem me out of all my troubles. Yet those blessings come only when I fulfill my part in His covenant, even though my salvation is secure because Jesus kept His part in saving me and dying for my sin.

PRAY: Lord, what can I say or do but wait on You to either send marching orders or inform me otherwise. In the meantime, I know what to do next — pray and listen and most of all, obey what You tell me what to do next… 

It takes a long time to grow up…

Becoming mature as a Christian does not happen instantly. Salvation, forgiveness, justification adoption into His family and many aspects of the Christian experience happens in a blink of an eye but the goal to be transformed into the image or reflection of Jesus Christ does not happen overnight. Like a mighty sculpture, there is much to be chipped away that is not like Jesus.

Today’s devotional likens it to the growth of a baby or the maturing of an apple. Both are what they should be from beginning to end, yet the baby cannot do what a grown person can do. Nor can the beginning of an apple mean it is fit to put in a pie.

Babies and apples, like Christians, cannot make themselves grow. We do have a part to play — that is, I need to be willing and cooperate with the Holy Spirit who feeds and nurtures me through the Word of God and fellowship with other Christians. Growth is enhanced through obedience as well, just as a child who runs and plays becomes stronger. If the assignments from God increase in difficulty, this is like graduating to the gym, working harder and increasing in wisdom as well as in understanding the perfection of God’s will.

Yet I know that age and experience must not underestimate the power of the world, the flesh, and the enemy to tip me over in my desire and effort to be mature.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)

The goal is reached only as Jesus appears to me and I see Him as He is. Until then, I cannot see Him clearly, even at my age and with years of experience living as His child:

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:11–12)

When that day comes, all that is not like Jesus will be gone, but more and more I realize how much of me is not like Jesus. As the Spirit works, the Bible tells me that my understanding of what that means have often been off base. I once thought that maturity meant things like always knowing the answers to perplexities, always praising God publicly, praying with great fervor, being a leader of others, etc. but the Lord keeps reminding me of this passage:

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:1–2)

Doing good works is not as lofty as I once thought. It is simple, like being “submissive to rulers and authorities” (Titus 3:1) or raising children, or showing hospitality, or washing the feet of God’s people, or caring for the afflicted (1 Timothy 5:9–10).

The focus is not what I do, but the purity of heart in which it is done. That means none of it is for personal glory, or to pat myself on the back, or to draw attention to me, or feed my ego in any way. Jesus did not come to earth for any of that. He came to save the lost, even to die so we could live. No self-gratification but only to obey the Father and He endured “for the joy set before Him” when He would be seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

His works were perfect in every stage of the occurrence, but not complete until He declared as He died, “It is finished.” Even on my death bed, I will never be able to make the same claim unless I am perfectly mature. By an act of faith, I can put myself into the hands of the Lord, and then, by a continuous exercise of faith, keep myself there, even be made “fit for every good work” yet that total purity of Christlikeness will not be mine until I see Him face to face.

PRAY: Lord, this is why I long to see You. I know that it is in seeing You I will be perfected, and all that me-stuff will no longer be my worst enemy. Such a wonderful hope. Thank You.

 

Needing some comfort?

 

With the deaths of my sister and her grandson, and the deaths of friends from Covid, I’ve prayed much this year that God would comfort His people. Yet in our human sinfulness, we sometimes turn to other sources. We look for people to do it, or distract ourselves with activities like shopping, baking, even sleep, or try everything from music to chemicals and drugs to calm ourselves instead of turning to the One who has great compassion on His people. As David said, the Lord’s presence has great value, even in the worst discomfort of all — the threat of death:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

He and others who wrote the psalms knew that when they needed His comfort God could bring them strength. They said things like this:

Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. (Psalm 86:17)

When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord. (Psalm 119:52)

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:1–2)

For the Lord will vindicate his people andhave compassion on his servants. (Psalm 135:14)

All these verses use the word “to COMFORT” which means “to alleviate sorrow or distress; give emotional strength to” and describes what many of us need these days — a touch from our Almighty God to give us “gladness for sorrow” and “consolation” in our troubles and confusion.

In the NT, people comfort people yet the greatest source is God whom we bless:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3–7)

This comfort from God not only does its job but gives purpose to itself and to the suffering it alleviates. Because of both experiences, I can have compassion on others who suffer. When I get sick, I feel for others who are sick. When I struggle with problems, I can more easily relate to others who struggle. When I suffer loss, I have greater empathy for others who are grieving. Not only that, whatever God uses to comfort me in those experiences I can use to bless and comfort others.

When my father died, many people tried to comfort me but most of what they said or did fell short. Then an obviously excited young woman bounced up and said, “I know this may sound a little strange, but I am so happy for your dad.” That was comfort! She took my mind off ‘poor me’ and put it on the joy in heaven that my father was experiencing. God bless her. That same thought carries me through grief and it does the same for others whose loved ones have gone into the presence of the Lord.

God comforts the downcast, sends encouraging words and people to us, and gives us whatever we need to alleviate our pain and build us up in truth and in a positive sense that His will is being done and it is right. In trials, the enemy will whisper, ‘God does not love you . . . look what is happening’ but the Spirit of God says just the opposite. For this reason, Jesus called Him The Comforter.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Using Scripture to gaze at the character of the Lord helps me to realize that no matter what is happening, He is with me, He knows how I feel, and He will never stop loving me or caring about my situation, even using it for good — to transform me into the likeness of His Son. His goals give life’s sorrows a great purpose and that purpose gives me great comfort!

 

A heart after God’s heart

Today’s devotional raises a great question. First this verse:

The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on (Eliab’s) appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

The question is: When the Lord looked upon David’s heart, what did he see? I did a quick run through some of the psalms of David and found a few qualities that God saw in this man who came from a boy tending sheep to the king of Israel.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1–2) David had a thankful heart and expressed this in praise to God.

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalm 13:5–6) David trusted God’s love and rejoiced in His redemption, thankful always for His blessings.

“O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.” (Psalm 15:1–2) This shepherd-king also knew that blameless was not about perfection but about truth from the heart. He also knew that faith in God involved a personal relationship with Him.

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me . . . But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’” (Psalm 31:1–3 & 14) David relied on God in trouble, trusting Him without any hint of relying on himself.

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” (Psalm 51:1–4) David sinned, but he knew in his heart that God forgives sin when it is honestly confessed, when he agrees with God about the transgressions he has committed.

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131:1–2) David, king of Israel and the one through whom the Messiah would come, was also humble of heart. He had no personal ambition to be anything more than what God wanted for him.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I read this list and am blessed by the heart of David. He was thankful, filled with rejoicing faith and whole-hearted trust, honest, a man of integrity with no self-reliance either, transparent concerning sin and his own sense of need, plus completely humble and without selfish ambition. Not only do I fall short of having a heart like the heart of David, I am utterly amazed that You, the God who redeemed and blessed him, also redeemed and blessed me.