From Complaining to Cooperation

Having a slight touch of autism means that I work hard to interpret the behavior of others. If someone is complaining, are they in trouble, or crying for help, or thinking they deserve better, or just having a bad day? However, the Word of God has been helping me understand many things, not from a human perspective (we tend to make excuses for everything) but seeing it from God’s perspective. This is what He says about complaining:

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:14–15)

For a Christian, complaining is not a godly behavior but a blemish. It essentially is denying the wisdom of God in the affairs of my life and blatantly saying that He does not know what He is doing, or not doing the right thing, and He does not care about my comfort.

The Word of God is clear: that is not the right attitude to have. It is shutting my eyes and heart to God’s love and wisdom, and not understanding His will. He allows all things that He can use for good, meaning the ‘good’ of being transformed into the image of His Son. If I need correction, He gives it. If I complain about it instead of cooperating with it, I stay the same and miss the point.

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. (Romans 8:28–29)

God’s priority is transformation. Complaining misses it. Cooperation brings me into a joyful place of “I get it” and changes my reaction to the stuff that I once belly-ached about. 

This is like the disciple of a parent with a far greater reason behind it than wanting me to learn how to grow up: “For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:10)

After seeing God’s purpose for me and how He can use even hardship and tough situations to change my life, then the following verses (and many more) become my focus and my joy:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)
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? (Romans 8:32)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
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)

As the reading for today says, grumbling is evidence of little faith in the gracious providence of God in all the affairs of my life. Complaining reveals that I do not believe in God’s promises. Complaining dishonors God. It belittles his sovereignty, wisdom and goodness. It also thinks I know more about what is good for me than He does.

In other words, if my faith is strong, I will not grumble. Instead, I will remember that God is always good, not just when life feels good. And if I want to shine as a light in this world, then I must not let complaining obscure God’s gracious, all-controlling providence. Instead, I am learning to be thankful and obey Him in all ways so that His glory shines rather than be marred by my selfish pride. A passion for the goodness and wisdom of God is a passion to grumble no more.

PRAY: Lord, thank You for opening my heart to this reality that You are my Lord. You are good to me and are saving me and transforming me. You actually rejoice over me with gladness as You quiet me by Your love. You even exult over me with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Whatever can I complain about when I am given the wonder of Your goodness and love!

God reveals Himself in my JOY!

 

Today’s devotional had nothing for me so I looked in a more recent publication where Piper writes about the rare teaching of Jonathon Edwards, a man who taught a rarely heard solution to all Christian problems. Piper’s classic “The Pleasures of God” just before the one about Edwards, and has encouraged many believers. It describes what Edwards taught, that our focus needs to be simply enjoying God for who He is and how I need to love the Lord for His own greatness and beauty. I also must distinguish it from love that delights only in His gifts. It is love in which my pleasure is in God himself.

This is a vital issue. How easily I love health, prosperity, answered prayers, warm fellowship, all the good things God blesses me with, but where is my joy if these are withheld? Does it fly out the window and leave me feeling unloved, not cared about? Yesterday I spent the afternoon with a few friends and came home sad, telling hubby that if I had not been there, no one would have missed me. Yikes. Joy in God? Or joy in His blessings?

It is easy to write about the basics of the gospel, about God’s glorious perfections, man’s fallen nature, the wonders of redemptive history, the magnificent work of redemption in Christ, the saving and sanctifying work of grace, our Christian conflict with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and our hope of everlasting joy with our Lord, but much harder to live it. 

I don’t what to be a hypocrite — all talk and no do. I want the mind-shaping knowledge and the transforming enjoyment of God and His glory. I don’t want my knowledge of Him to rest lightly on me as it does on so many. One person says, “It is this God, majestic and holy in his being, this God whose love knows no bounds because his holiness knows no limits, who has disappeared from the modern evangelical world.” I don’t want that, and now see how deeply revival is needed, but it must start with me.

God does everything that He does—absolutely everything—for the sake of displaying His glory. He is the beginning, the middle, and the end of all things. Nothing exists or remains without His word. Everything has its reason for existing and nothing can be understood apart from Him. All understandings that leave Him out are superficial understandings since they leave out the most important reality in the universe. This is stated in what I read, and I believe it. This needs to be more than that faith but also action. I must share it for declaring His glory is the purpose behind why He created the universe. Edwards stated it something like this: 

God is glorified by appearing and revealing Himself in His Son, who is the brightness of His glory. He also enjoys and delights in Himself, by flowing forth in His Holy Spirit. He also glorifies Himself by appearing to our understanding and by communicating Himself to our hearts. In other words, when I rejoice and delight in His revealing of Himself, He is glorified, not only that His glory is seen, but rejoiced in my mind and heart, and that glory shines out to all those around me. 

Only hypocrites make ‘self’ the foundation of their joy, but a true follower of Jesus Christ is inexpressibly pleased and delighted with the glorious nature of God. This is vital for I must deny self, “choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” (Hebrews 11:25) to walk with Him: “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) That is to say, self-life is the cause of all sorrow and self-denial “destroys the root of sorrow.” Consider these verses:

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (Matthew 5:11)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:2–3)
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (Acts 5:41)
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. (Hebrews 10:34)
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

The pursuit of His joy doesn’t contradict suffering — it carries it. This joy is a faith matter, not walking by sight that perceives only the comfortable stuff as good:

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (1 Peter 1:8)

PRAY: Jesus, for years Christians have been told not to let emotions control our lives, yet this is an error. Joy indicates the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit. If joy is missing then the Holy Spirit is not filling me. I’m not to seek joy any other way. That would be idolatry. And 1 John 1:9 always tells me what to do if joy is missing. Now You show me again the deep reason why joy is so vital — it is the way to display Your glory.

Don’t Forget His Joy

A few weeks ago Christian friends were talking about having fun. One of them remarked that God gives pleasure. Since then, I’ve thought about the pleasures of life. Most them are definitely from God:

Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit. (Jeremiah 31:2–5)

Joy in the Lord is not the same as the joy that the world gives. Jeremiah is talking about “grace in the wilderness” and hope for the enjoyments to come in the future. This joy does not depend on circumstances. It is that deep understanding that He is blessing me and that my eternal future is secured. It is also a gift from the Holy Spirit that wells up even during trials, based on knowing God is good and has good results in mind.

This joy can change even the dullest of days into worship and thanksgiving, without externals at its foundation. Simple things bring a smile, like looking out my window this morning and seeing a bunny rabbit sitting within five feet of me, or watching the sky turn bright as the sun comes up. Yesterday was joyful with a gathering of people all from all over the world. It was joyful watching an episode of the Postables who rescued a farm family when all seemed lost, fiction but so like God. Each ordinary event becomes delightful as the Spirit helps me see my Lord graciously making it a pleasure.

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)

This does not mean all the bad stuff fades into nothing. My heart still feels the horror and heaviness it did when researching how many homeless children suffer without love, or how some children occupy our local children’s hospital and their parents never visit them. I cannot watch the news when it shows bombings and rubble, or tells of senseless accidents and deaths.

Yet He still gives joy, in sunrises and rabbits, in the affection of those who greet me with a hug, in the delight of color, and grass turning green from dead brown, in getting on the scales to find I’m two pounds less than yesterday. Little things — and a very incredible God. Because of His love and grace, I can relate to these words from King David:

I asked life of you; you gave it to me, length of days forever and ever. Your glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on me. For you make me most blessed forever; you make me glad with the joy of your presence. For I trust in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High I shall not be moved. (Psalm 21:4–7, personalized)

PRAY: Jesus, there are days when the bad news or tough aspects of life overwhelm me and that sense of joy hides in the mess. Yet it never really goes away. It is my retreat at fault not Yours. Instead of letting You fill me with delight, I let life fill me with despair. Forgive me for doing that, for forgetting the wonder of life with You instead of being thankful and dancing for joy because of all that You are and all that You do. Truly Your glory is great. Amen.

Faith in what I cannot see…

 

Every now and then God shows answers to prayer. Friends who were ill and we prayed for healing and it happened. Or a prayer for finances worked out. Or prayers for changed lives happened. Even my prayers for parking places have put me in a busy lot right in front of the store door. But these are exceptions not the norm.

Faith is the assurance of things not seen. When I pray for an unnamed pastor in a unnamed country using an app that receives such requests, I have no idea what God does in answer to that prayer. It could be yes, no, or wait. When I pray for politicians, or leaders in other realms, I may see things happen, but not be certain that is the answer to my prayer. God’s ways are mysterious.

Last week, I had a whim to look at a show home in another part of the city, wound up having lunch in a place we’d never visited, read a news story in that restaurant, looked it up on YouTube when we got home, sent the link to a young friend and he later emailed me to say that changed the direction of his life. When I told a Christian friend about this chain of events, she replied how often she longed to see the results of her actions, and her prayers.

However, we agree that faith is about trusting the Lord, whether we can see what He is doing or not. Today’s reading says our desire is not about seeing what the Lord does but about seeing Him.

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1–2)
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)

Piper writes, “Nearness to God himself is the only all-satisfying experience of the universe” and that the psalmist wants to see the power and glory of God. Can that happen without seeing answers to all my prayers? Yes, it can. There are days when I am overwhelmed by simply reading His Word and realizing afresh the wonder of who He is and the nearness of His presence.

PRAY: Jesus, I desire that my mind is on You whenever it is free from the necessities of thought, that my emotions are elevated as I sense Your nearness and Your love, and that my will is fixed on Your will being done — whether I can see it happening or not. Based on the reality of faith, I can know that You are at work concerning all things that concern me because You say that You are in my life whether I can see it or not. Maybe eternity will reveal what is unseen or not, yet it will let me see You face to face, and that will be enough.

Loving the Giver

I became a Christian as an adult, yet am beginning to see how God used pre-faith events as lessons for the Christian life. My mom read the Bible every morning. I copied her and that carried over after Jesus changed my heart. She also trusted that whatever happened we “must need it” and that laid a foundation for trust. She also did one thing that was annoying at the time; she bought clothes for me that I didn’t like at all. They were not my style, not the colors that looked well on me, but I see now how that mirrors a biblical command. I’m told to love the Giver rather than make idols of the gifts. I loved my mom, even when she gave me that bright orange silk thing!

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

As today’s reading says, these are commands. While I am also told to “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2) it would be idolatry to call the gladness I get from them, my love for God. I could love my mom even if I didn’t care for the gifts. He showed me the distinction before He saved me.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25–26)

Because I have a heart problem from childhood, this passage speaks also. The Lord is indeed the strength of my heart. I do appreciate pacemakers and cardiac specialists, but they are not my strength — the Lord is, and He taught me that before I knew this verse existed.

The Word of God teaches me that His gifts of health, wealth, and prosperity do not satisfy. I learned that before learning that only God satisfies. While I thank Him for all He does, I cannot call those gifts or the feelings they bring with more delight than my love for Him. As David said, “In your presence is fullness of joy, in your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11), I know that nearness to God is the only totally satisfying experience in my life.

PRAY: A friend just had a heart-attack and another friend’s son just had a stroke. They need prayer. Our day is filled with family plans needing prayer. My to-do list is still too long and I yearn for a day that does not involve “settling in” to this new house, a day that is just ‘normal’ and without a host of interruptions. All are needing prayer. But You, Jesus make such a difference. I can chat with You through all of it and enjoy the strength of heart that You provide, and the joy of knowing that no matter what happens, You have reasons for it. Thank You for showing me that I can love You as Giver even when the gifts are not ideal or comfortable. You hear and answer, and You are my portion forever!

A Joyful Noise

An OT passage telling the Israelites about their future home says: “The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.” (Ezekiel 48:35) Another prophet says: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:10)

In the NT, Jesus ends the great commission with “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) adding to what He’d already said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20) The last book sums it up:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3–4)

The entire Bible gives assurance to the people of God this one answer to our fears and anxieties of facing life alone, or without help, or worse — without Him. He says, “I will be with thee” and did not need to say more. His presence guaranteed all our needs would be supplied. At the moment of this assurance, all fear vanishes and bold confidence returns.

For most of the week, it seemed God was far away. I’ve not had that sense for a long time, not since a classic book described His presence being like the air around me. Yesterday, I expressed this horrible feeling of being abandoned, a return to my biggest fear. I did not want to pray as it seemed He was not here to listen. My emotions were low, as if nothing mattered. I had asked what to do with my time in this new place — no answer. It seemed He was saying nothing.

Then I went to my usual Thursday time of prayer. One other person came and we talked about our burdens and as we did, that promise about “where two or three are gathered in my name” became a reality. The sense of His presence returned along with assurance that He had never left.

This seemed a ‘new Christian’ test, not for old timers like me, but it was a test — and a reminder that the foundations are always important. God’s eternal presence with His people is a foundation. I do not need His surprises or answers to prayer to know that He is always with me. Was I headed in that direction? Not sure, but certainly glad that this test didn’t last longer than it did.

What amazed me (again) is that I did not do anything to get from darkness back to light. God did that. My praying friend started talking about a mutual concern and did not say anything profound, but in the middle of it, the Lord seemed to fill the room with light and my heart with joy. Later, when I got home, an email came with some good news about a lost item being found. Then later, more news of a relative who had a stroke and was expected to die, but he is laughing and communicating with a whiteboard. More answered prayer.

PRAY: Jesus, Your presence first, then joy, then answered prayers and more joy. “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) What more to say than to make a joyful noise to You with songs of praise!

Experiencing God’s presence . . .

 

I usually forget what time my hubby leaves to have breakfast with a friend or to go golfing, but I always know he has gone — there is no sense of his presence. It’s the same if he steps out for a walk, to water the yard, or to talk to a neighbor. I’m not sure why I know he is away.

On the other hand, when it comes to God, I cannot see Him yet am usually intensely aware of His presence. In one author’s book (It may have been Andrew Murray) I read that the presence of God is like the air around us, unseen yet always there. Since that, it takes very little to sense He is with me.

Sometimes knowing God is near makes me tremble. The psalmist wrote: “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 114:7) At times His presence is a great comfort, or a delight, or a reassurance. Whatever my reaction, it is seldom that He just shows up but that wonderful sense that He is always here, always with me. He knows what I am doing, even what I am thinking.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:1–10)

At times, my husband or other people can be right beside me, but I am not thinking about them and may not be consciously aware of their physical presence. It is not the same as God. I can think about other things (sometimes to my shame) but when I think about God, that sense of Him being with Him increases and my heart rejoices. Praise comes, or prayers about needs, or that wonder of Him being near and no words need to be said.

Years ago, I read about a spiritual exercise that changed my life. Because I was sick as a child and often alone in a hospital room, I grew up with the fear of being abandoned. Then God had me reading Henri Nouwen. He suggested to go into a room where I would not be disturbed and think about whatever I feared the most. Let that fear wash over me and experience it fully. I did that, and the sense of being abandoned was so strong that I felt empty. This was painful, even terrible. Nouwen said this would happen and I should make no effort to avoid it, but let those emotions have control. I felt as if I would die and, in a sense, I did.

Then the surprise — a powerful sense of God’s presence came into that room, as if He were physically present and completely there — with me, never to go away or abandon me.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5–6)

That experience of God’s promise stuck. He is here. I’ve no need to pray, “God, be with me” either for His presence or the sense of His presence. I might not think about it at times, but usually do, and in all kinds of situations. Not focusing on His presence is dangerous and can ruin my life!

PRAY: Lord Jesus, even knowing You are always with me, I’ve still not reached the perfection of making You an integral part of my daily decisions and activities. However, I love You and long to see You even though I know that You are as close to me as anyone can be. You are teaching me to talk to You easily and often, and You are answering prayer in surprising and delightful ways. Keep my heart focused on the reality that You are walking with me and holding my hand all the time, no matter what else is happening. What great delight in knowing You are with me, always!

READ John 14:1–31. What did Jesus say about my part in how He manifests Himself to His people? What does the Holy Spirit do for God’s people now that Jesus is physically absent?