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… 

Living for Jesus is not a payback

Today’s reading gives more reasons why I should never consider that my obedience is paying  God back for all He has done for me. Even if I could do it, I would be turning grace into a business transaction. If I could pay him back, my salvation could not be by grace. Grace is a free gift.

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. (Romans 4:4)

I might do this trade thing when someone invites us for dinner and I want to return the favor and pay them back. Feeling obligated nullifies their gracious gift. God does not ask for that response to His gracious gift. Instead, I am to “praise his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. . . . so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. . . . who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:6-14)

Piper also points out that focusing on gratitude as an empowerment for obedience tends to overlook the crucial importance of future grace. In other words, gratitude looks back to grace received in the past and feels thankful. However, faith looks forward to grace promised in the future and feels hopeful.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Trusting God for the future strengthens my obedience. It is confidence in what God will do. Past grace builds confidence for that future that is not seen, but paying Him back turns grace into a trade. Instead, my obedience must come from trusting Him for more grace. This trust honors His promises and His power so I can say with Paul:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

His trust was in God's promises, as did Joshua who heard God say: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) This man then obeyed and moved as God directed and empowered him to move ahead.

God promises me what I need. I trusted Him on His past performance and faith gives me courage to trust Him for future needs. I am not to do the payback thing as reason for obedience but instead honor His promises to lead me and give me whatever I need for what He may ask me to do:

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)

PRAY: I never know what each day brings, but I do know that You can enable me to follow Your lead and do Your will, not only because of past grace, but because of Your promises. Trusting You is vital. Thanking You is also vital. Trying to pay You back for all that You have done is an exercise in futility.

Ruckus or a Rest?

 

Every now and then things happen that require either acceptance or a fight. Because God is sovereign and controls all things, and uses them for my good, I can rest no matter what those things might be.

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)

This teaching was one of the first things God put into my heart and mind. It works well with my mother’s mantra. She often said, “We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it.” While she said it most often about the weather, this trust in God for every circumstance held even when she suffered from Alzheimers and faced all sorts of changes and challenges. She had this amazing attitude of acceptance rather than fighting life, and that attitude fits well with being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

I’ve said I want to be like my mom when I grow up. Now, into my later years, I’m still learning. One area is with new situations, or with many decisions to be made. Our recent decision to move into another place that is more suited to our needs is giving me reasons to repeat mom’s mantra.

Jesus gave an invitation that also fits with this idea and reason for accepting life as it comes. He said:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

I’ve learned that this passage uses two words about burdens. The first is the heavy load of a shipment that requires muscle or equipment to move it. However, the “burden” that Jesus said He would give us is merely the paper invoice that is attached to the shipment! In other words, His yoke is nothing compared to the weight that most people try to carry. He does not want me to take on the heavy loads, only those that are in His will for me.

The Bible also talks about rest. It is typified in Sabbath rest, one day in seven to stop working and take it easy, but it points to the same type of rest that Jesus talked about, the rest of not laboring with the full load but trusting Him and coming to Him for only what He wants for me. This is also implied in the words, “I must need it…” for what He gives is needful that I might be like Him. What I might take on in my own strength does not do that for me. Instead, it makes me tired, worn out, grumpy, and hard to get along with.
In other words, my load is the work of the flesh, and taking His load is walking in the Spirit. One is a fight and also a disobedience. The other is acceptance, trust, and full obedience.

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:6–13)

PRAY: Jesus, I am so aware of the difference between being heavy laden and taking on the yoke with You that You give. I cannot manage daily life, never mind moving to another home, without Your grace and strength. All that I try on my own makes me irritable and anxious. Trusting You fills me with peace and joy. Thank You for my mother — and thank you for being who You are, the giver of good things that I might become more like You.

Cheerful Giving

God answers my questions in ways that surprise me. I’ve a great idea with His direction in how to make it happen, but still struggle with a sense of total inadequacy. While I know that God’s strength is perfected in weakness, this isn’t helping me take the next steps. I keep inventing ways to escape, but God keeps bringing me back.

This morning, He points to a passage on giving. While it talks about money, the Holy Spirit makes it clear that giving can include time, energy, and being generous with what I have. In other words, these verses are more about attitude and being willing to offer to God whatever He asks for considering my ‘five loaves and two fishes’ is enough for Him to use in ways that are beyond what I can ask or think. This is the Word of God (slightly shortened):  

“We want you to know . . .  about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means . . . and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part . . .  and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us . . . see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove . . .  that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich . . .  you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it . . . now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:1–15)

God is saying to me that giving whatever I give in time, energy, and other resources is not about the quantity, but about loving others and about being like Jesus. He accepts what I give when my attitude is godly:

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work . . . He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:6–15)

Like the lad with the bread and fish, the Lord will receive all we offer and multiply it for His purposes. But first the lad had to give up his lunch. He made the sacrifice necessary for God to accomplish a far greater plan than the boy or anyone else expected.

In giving money, the law required a tenth, whether the giver wants to give it or not. The gospel does not toss out tithing, but it does add the concept of giving freely. This is a privilege, not a burden, yet never to be done carelessly or haphazardly. I am to give according to the decisions of my heart, not reluctantly or under pressure.

Regarding this proposal that has me hedging about doing, I could opt out because it seems too burdensome, or I can ask God to change my attitude and set me free from my fears of being too weak to do the job. That cheerful heart is vital. Without it, every setback or trial will kill its progress.

Also, giving requires planning and careful management so as not to hinder my ability to give. With time and energy, it requires the same. I cannot waste either with activities that rob me of both and take away what is needed to do this that God has put on my heart to do.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I can see from these verses that You want me to give freely, cheerfully, abundantly and sacrificially, not because of any club raised over my head, but because I love You, because I have a willing heart and am eager to prove that my love is genuine. I know I can purpose in my hearts to do it, but not without Your grace and power. As I work this out, work in me to both will and do Your good pleasure.

Gratitude and praise should be automatic . . .

Leprosy is mostly a disease of the of the upper respiratory tract with skin lesions as the primary external sign. If untreated, leprosy can progress and cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb or diseased as a result of secondary infections. The body's defenses are compromised so a secondary infection can result in tissue loss causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed.

In biblical times, leprosy referred to several skin conditions besides what is now known as Hansen’s Disease. Lepers are somewhat contagious so were isolated and considered unclean. They were outcasts in society. No one talked to them or wanted to be with them. I try to imagine how that would affect their lives. When Jesus came and began to heal them, no wonder they were excited to meet Him . . .

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Matthew 8:2–4)

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11–19)

These incidents illustrate several things. One is that the lepers didn’t assume God’s blessing. They asked for mercy because they realized that healing was only available through grace. They had no merit or claim of worth. This humility is revealed by their request that included, ‘if you will’ and that they stood at a distance from Jesus.

Some try to approach God as if He owes them a blessing. The assumption is rooted in pride. Jesus has a strong rebuke for anyone who thinks they deserve His blessing. These verses convict me of spiritual pride . . .

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

Likewise, the lepers made no claim to righteousness. This is the attitude that God welcomes. However, out of the lepers in the two examples given, nearly all of them had an attitude that does not please God. They did not praise or thank God for His blessing on them. Healing was important. The Law told them to show themselves to the priest to verify their condition, but as soon as Jesus told them to do it, they took off without thanking Him for what He had done.

Sinners, leprosy or not, must approach Christ with the same sense of need, humiliation, faith, and submission as did the first leper. We must also do what He says so that others can see the work He has done in our lives. Most of all, we must give praise and say thank you to Him. This also is the mark of a healed and changed life.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I’ve never had leprosy but I recognize the same poor attitudes as those who did. I take You for granted and often forget to thank You with praise for Your answers to my needs. You take care of me, and You tell me what to do. My obedience is imperfect, but lack of praise and thanksgiving is a greater omission.

Ideals and Visions

For a long time I thought that if I had unlimited education and resources, I’d start a Bible school. After being educated at four different colleges and seminaries, I became convinced of what would be an ideal school, one that would make solid disciples.

No one has ‘unlimited’ resources, yet as much as God has blessed us, that school has never happened. Chambers’ devotional for today gives me a good idea why not. He makes practical comments about this verse:

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18)

My school is an ideal, but it has no vision. I’m good at the ideal part. Creative thoughts flow out of me almost without ceasing, but as Chambers says, there is a difference between an ideal and a vision. He says an ideal has no moral inspiration; but a vision has. I’m not sure about that, but from experience I must agree with his next statement: people who have great ideals rarely do anything.

Ideals are not necessarily immoral, however they can be misused. I could argue that God is sovereign therefore He will save whom He will save. This is true and could be called an ideal, but I could understand it incorrectly and assume that I don’t need to share the gospel with anyone. On the other hand, if God gave me a vision of how He was going to save an entire city, that vision could impel me to seek my part in fulfilling it.

My ideal school is another example. As some might say, it is the stuff of which dreams are made of, but without a vision from the Lord, at the very least the ideal fades. It could also side-track me into daydreaming about what could have been instead of doing what God actually wants from me in the first place.

These are interesting thoughts. Was my ideal school first a vision and I let it slide without reaching for it? Did God intend that I take this and run with it? Or was it only my ambition seeking something else? I might never know the answers to those questions.

Chambers also says that when the vision fades, we cast off restraints. It seems the verse refers to those restraints that keep people walking the straight and narrow. Could they also include barriers God puts in my way so I will stay focused on His will, restraints He wanted but I didn’t want so tossed them out of my way? Whenever I insist on doing my own thing, I also begin pushing God away. With that, any vision I might have had fades as well. When that happens, life becomes mediocre instead of an exciting adventure.

In John Piper’s book, Desiring God: Confessions of a Christian Hedonist, one thought summarizes the gist of it -- we are too easily satisfied with mediocrity. We go for what this world offers when we could have the glories of Jesus Christ. Even then, the Christian life can also settle into a rut and because change is often stressful, we stay in the rut. Author and educator, Howard Hendricks points out the folly of resisting change because for Christians, change is our destiny.

Chambers challenges me too. He says ideals can lull me to ruin, the ruin of wasting minutes, hours, days, and years instead of focusing on God’s vision. I need to takes stock: do I have ideas only? Or do I have a vision of what God wants from me? Chambers says my reach should extend my grasp. At the same time, I realize that visions are from God. If not, then all my planning and imagination will come to nothing.

I’ve never been much of a risk-taker, never mind a visionary. However, God keeps stretching me beyond what my teeny mind can imagine.