His school of higher learning…

A childhood illness kept me out of public school and away from other children for most of grades one to seven. Later, I realized how much I did not learn from being with my peers, particularly the people skills that are learned by experience. I didn’t know what to say or do in many normal situations. I felt the awkwardness of having a blank mind or no opinion rather than knowing what my peers learned from growing up in a social setting. 

When I became a Christian in my late twenties, this lack became an acute reality. However, it was not totally negative. Instead, God used it to His advantage. I did not have many worldly ideas to unlearn. I also felt like a servant coming to Him eager to learn how to live.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:2)

Many other verses became a comfort to me and an encouragement when I felt stupid or not like other people, verses like these:

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. (Psalm 25:4)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)
I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! (Psalm 119:125)
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! (Psalm 119:29)

The image of having an empty platter for Him to fill became particularly strong. Many times I’ve felt like that, particularly after seeing other Christians who seemed to know very easily what to do and say, even in awkward situations. 

Struggling to be more like that, I realized two things: one is that this is not about learning it in school but about relying on the Holy Spirit. And secondly, even when feeling blank about many things, I have a great deal of pride and can be stubborn about having ‘my way’ instead of obeying God. Doing and saying the ‘right’ thing involves being humble and lowly, teachable and willing to listen to and obey the Spirit. This is not learned in grade school either.

My part involves spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, study, and prayer, being alone with God, asking for His wisdom and trusting what He says. It helps to pray His Word, and learn of Him. Obedience is an intentional choice, but it can be stalled by unforgiveness, failure to confess my sins, and failure to be accountable to others. 

While I might have learned many things from my peers in class and on the playground, I would not have learned obedience from a changed heart. That involves lessons that come only from the Lord because He is the only one who can make the changes. This is certainly why this verse has always part of my learning experience:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

PRAY: Lord, would being in school as a child made learning about You easier? I don’t think so. It might have given me more worldly notions that require ‘mind renewal’ (Romans 12:2) and deepened my stubborn pride, but I can’t know that. I just know that You governed my life from birth to this day, and You know what still needs to be done to transform me into the image of Your Son (Romans 8:28-29). For all that You do as my Savior and Teacher, I am deeply thankful even though I realize how far I am from that goal.

Good In, Good Out?

 

An app gives me access to library e-books. I started to read one but it began with descriptions of horrible attacks and murders. Within three chapters, I returned it without reading the rest. I’m not sure my mind is like a computer, but I’m not willing to risk that “Garbage In, Garbage Out” maxim.

Aside from the book, we went for an early breakfast because we check-out today. Normally I don’t eat early but we will be a long time in the air. Anyway, on the way for a small bite to eat, we talked to a very friendly young hotel liaison person about how to grow old in a good way. I told him that the main thing we focused on was listening to God and doing what He says. He received that well. Had I read any of that book, thoughts like that may not have entered my head.

Being like Jesus is a daily challenge. Jesus would not have read explicit books, nor would He focus on exercise, health food, or any of the other usual recommendations for a long life. He may have quoted the OT commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12) yet I doubt it. He knew that a long life is not guaranteed by what we do. He may also have quoted Psalm 90 that includes the words: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

Why listen to Jesus? Some say He was merely a Jewish teacher. Others say He was an idea, like a myth. However, the Bible and His own words declare a most marvelous truth:

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3)
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (John 14:10)
I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. (John 12:45)

Jesus is not a mere teacher, a mere wise man with good advice. He is the Creator God, the Word made flesh who came here so we could know what God is like, but so we could also have a relationship with Him through faith, experience forgiveness of sin, and be certain of eternal life as the result.

For all of that and more, I want to do His will, not the will of the world, my old nature, or the devil. 1 John 3 begins with the statement that those who hope in Him purify themselves as He is pure. God’s goal for me is to be like Jesus. I cannot claim the same identity but because of His saving power, I can claim to know God and to advance in purity. Reading a crappy book does nothing toward those realities.

PRAY: Jesus, thanks for giving this book-lover the gumption to toss a book – even one that is part of a series that seems otherwise okay – to instead prefer to read about You and Your incredible goodness. You reveal the Father, holiness, purity and grace so I can occupy my mind with  “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” and if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, I can think about those things (Philippians 4:8) and share them with others.

Psalms of praises I will ever give to Thee. . .

 

A son of our close friends wrote and sang to his bride on their wedding day, a special expression of his love for her. This touched the hearts of all who heard it.

Today I am reminded that music is important to God too. In the OT, He had people trained to sing to Him, and on special days, the “priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might to the Lord.” Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” Even the mountains, forests, and waste places were called to “break forth with singing” to express the joy of God’s goodness. But His creation isn’t all that sings . . .

Zephaniah 3:17. “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

The word PSALM literally means to make music. This verse says that making music begins with God. He rejoices over His people, calms us with His love and lifts us up with loud singing. This means that I must listen for God in the music — during worship services, when I play music at home or in my car, and even when I sing, for He may be speaking to me in the melodies.

He certainly speaks to His people in the book of Psalms — which is His song book. Many psalms are filled with joy. Some are sad. Some identify with my problems and sorrows. Others challenge my selfishness. Some praise God’s creation. Some describe Jesus, the coming Messiah. All of them point to the God who sings, who inspired His people to write psalms that reveal truth about His goodness and remind readers how we can live to honor Him.

Psalm 47:7. “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!”

Psalm 95:1–2. “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”

Psalm 34:11. “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

Psalm 90:12. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 94:12. “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law.”

In the NT, the singing continues. Colossians 3:16 says, “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.”

This is powerful. First, it makes me realize that singing this way is being like the Lord. He sings — I am to sing also. Besides, His singing has great power. Even the thought of God singing fills me with unspeakable joy. How could I be troubled when I could listen to my Creator’s voice making music!

Not only that, He shows me the power of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in my own life. When I am kept awake by worries or a busy mind, singing “Jesus Loves Me” always calms those thoughts and lets me sleep. When I feel fearful, or am in physical pain, singing drives away all fears and stops me from grumbling and feeling sorry for myself. When working at a difficult or challenging or boring task, songs of praise change the chores to delightful duties. Music is powerful. God sings over me and when I sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs back to Him, I am blessed.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY . . . today this application should read LISTEN TO HIS VOICE. He whispers His presence and His love, and often His directions for the next step. He shouts when I am in danger or doing something stupid. He laughs when others challenge my faith, or when He hands me unexpected blessings. He hums when I need to hear a gentle thought. And sometimes He sings — reminding me that I need to just stop and listen.

 

Keep on keeping on . . .

1 Kings 9; Psalm 90; Ezekiel 39; Ephesians 6

Each day I try to focus on one virtue from a list of character traits. Today, that focus is: CONSIDER ALL MY LIFE and all that is available to me as resources for which I am a steward, unto the praise of HIS glory vs. Piling it up to glorify me. This thought comes from these verses:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31–33)

I’ve been thinking much of usefulness to God in these days of isolation, many fear-filled friends and personal aging. Full of ideas that cannot be used because of government restrictions, I wonder if my life has a point that I’ve missed. This and all sorts of other negative stuff make threats against my contented faith in God, yet it isn’t a sinful thing to “consider my life” — if I keep the power of God in mind.

God’s providence gave me support in these verses from today’s readings:

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:16–17)

 . . . along with a version of ‘Jesus Loves Me’ for seniors that includes these lines: “Jesus loves me, this I know, though my hair is white as snow, though my sight is growing dim, still He bids me trust in Him . . . When my work on earth is done, and life’s victories have been won, He will take me home above, then I’ll understand His love.”

Ezekiel gets in on this train of thinking by reminding me that God will destroy all threats against His people. He does it for His own name’s sake, just as I am to live for His glory . . .

“And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7)

Then the Lord gives me more encouragement from the NT; He tells me to “be strong” in Him and to “put on the whole armor of God” that He has given so I can stand against the schemes of the devil. I’m convinced that the devil’s schemes include putting a stop to my prayer life. Ephesians 6 lists God’s armor then defines the battle this way:

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:16–20)

This battle is not about being young and strong or having other special abilities. It is about recognizing those flaming darts (all lies from the devil) and standing against them in prayer. It is asking God to give words and boldness to His people so that we will tell others about Jesus Christ and what He has done to set us free from the bondage of sin. It is doing what we ought to do as His people and because of His love for us.

APPLY: Paul was in jail when he wrote this encouragement. Most of us are not incarcerated but we are isolated to some degree and restricted. More than ever, Christians need to keep praying. More than ever, I need to keep praying. The time I have left in this world is not nearly as important as being faithful to what God has given me to do with the resources and weapons that came with His gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. No pity parties or concerns about getting old — “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6)