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.

For unto us a child is born…

 

Some parts of the world devalue children, even use them for selfish gain. One writer remembers being in another country and men on the street offered him 8-9 year old girls for ‘his pleasure’ — and he was horrified.

Jesus valued children. Piper makes a list with verses, first pointing out that Jesus came as a child. I wrote an article called “That perfect Child” exploring the idea of what it might have been like to raise Him. One thing is certain; Jesus knows what it is to be a child.

As an adult, He invited children to Him: “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them.… And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.” (Mark 10:14, 16)

He also healed children, cast a demon out of at least one child, and raised another (or more?) from the dead.

Jesus did not ignore the service offered by a boy who offered his lunch so the Lord could feed five thousand people.

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. (John 6:9–10)

He also accepted, even applauded praise from children:  

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:14–16)

I’m horrified too by the abuse of children. Evil people see them as helpless to defend themselves and naive to many dangers around them. Very young children can be easily drawn from safety to grave danger. This gives pause to these words from the Savior:

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2–4)

Does being like a child make adult Christians open to exploitation? Those who think so are foolishly unaware that God protects His people. Not only that, a childlike person is aware of their weaknesses and inabilities and the need to rely on the Lord. A failure to do so can put us in all sorts of dangers. The world is filled with those who take advantage of weakness and the needy. Without the protection of Jesus and the care of other Christians, we could be exploited by spam, or greater abuses, some inflicted by even our own families.

I don’t mind being like a child in that I know who my Father is and know what it means to experience His care. God is not controlling me but I’ve learned that when I step outside of His care to make my own choices and do my own thing, the consequences are never good. Far better to be in His family like a child than to do life thinking I’m all grown up now.

PRAY: Jesus. I don’t remember that my folks ever said, “Oh, grow up” to me when I made decisions as a child. I’m glad for that. I’m also glad that childlike thinking makes trusting You easier. Some think that a willing and obedient child is suffering some sort of emotional abuse, and while that is possible, those children who are confident in the care of their parents have much less difficulty being confident in the care of our Heavenly Father. For this, I also give thanks.

A spoiled brat? Or a blessed child?

Deuteronomy 8; Psalm 91; Isaiah 36; Revelation 6

Sometimes I call myself “God’s spoiled brat” — in awe that He is so generous in His care. We are well fed, healthy, have all we need, and His great peace in our hearts. Our possessions seem to last a long time without wearing out. Our family is well with good jobs even in this pandemic. I feel spoiled.

It hasn’t always been like that. We began our marriage with cardboard boxes for night tables and problems galore. However, the Lord led us through, teaching us that obedience was more important than hard work and ambition. He repeated the pattern that He used with His children long ago . . .

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. (Deuteronomy 8:2–10)

Why the struggles and the discipline before the blessings? God knows that even those who believe in Him can fixate on His gifts and ignore Him. Now it seems foolish to set my heart on created things rather than my Creator, but I’ve not always clearly seen that danger. God knew though. If He was going to give me everything I need, then He had to teach me that I must not “live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Even after these many years of discipline, the dangers are still there. As Moses spelled them out to His people back then, He makes me aware each day of drifting off the path and enjoying the life of a spoiled brat instead of a contrite and trusting child. His warning is for me also:

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:17–18)

Instead of a brat whose focus is the gifts, God wants me to love Him. Then He can say to me as He said to the psalmist:

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14–16)

This entire psalm is about protection, living without fear, being delivered from pestilence and plague, being guarded, but all this comes only to those who love and seek God rather than personal comfort and being spoiled.

Every day brings blessings to my life. If the Lord disciplines me, I am learning to see that as a good thing for everything He wants removed or cleansed leaves room for Him to pour in more of His goodness and gifts. I’m in awe because His chastening reveals that I deserve not one of the least of His blessings, yet the outcome is overwhelming demonstrations of His amazing love and care.

APPLY: Gratitude, obedience, praise, joy and total focus on the Lord, sharing His goodness whenever I can.

 

In love, God disciplines His children

2 Chronicles 17:1–18:34, Titus 3:8–11, Psalm 99:1–100:5, Jeremiah 46:28

This may be a generalization, but it seems to me that throughout Scripture there are promises from God to bless those who obey Him. He does not say we “earn” His blessings by obedience, rather that He desires to bless us. However, rebellion and resistance to Him will interfere and those blessings can be pre-empted by discipline.

One example of blessing is in the story of Asa’s son Jehoshaphat. He reigned over Judah and strengthened himself against the other half of the kingdom that was resisting him. He fortified the cities in his realm and established garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim (the other half) that his father had captured.

“The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.” (2 Chronicles 17:1–6)

While this is not a “prosperity” gospel taught by some current preachers, it is an important principle. Again, the difference is that an obedient person is set out to obey God and do good, not to make himself rich or blessed. He or she does it out of love for God and love for others.

The NT reading for today says it like this: “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” (Titus 3:8)

Trusting God changes the way a person lives. By obeying Him in faith, I am blessed and so are others. That does not eliminate trials or hardships, but to be under the care of God as an obedient person makes tough experiences much different than they would be if I were fighting with God. His presence and strength are vital, and far more important than material wealth could ever be.

The psalmist repeats the principle, but notice this: He points out that although God blesses His people, if we disobey Him, He will discipline us. In other words, the blessing of God is not a freebie to be taken for granted. He does not look the other way whenever I go my own way!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them. In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. (Psalm 99:6–8)

These thoughts are repeated by the prophet Jeremiah, “Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:28)

As the NT also says, God disciplines those that He loves. That means His love is blessing, but so also is His discipline. He even says if I don’t experience it, I would not be His child.

Overwhelmed by His great compassion

Just as a mother bear will defend her cubs, human parents have been known to tackle a bear or far worse to protect their children. There is reason for that playground taunt, “My dad is bigger than your dad” for the child who says it knows that his father will protect him.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:11–13)

My heavenly father protects me too, a lesson learned the hard way. When wronged, my desire for revenge overwhelmed me, but the Spirit prevented me from taking action. The Lord reminded me of two things; one that He will avenge any wrong done to His people. Instead of taking matters into my own hands, I needed to rely on Him for justice in my situation.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily… (Luke 18:7–8)

At first, I thought that these verses came out of God’s desire for fair treatment. He is a holy and just God and He will right any wrongs. However, I began to see that my own sin deserves justice too. If God is going to “get even” with sinners, I should also fall into that same category.

The difference is that small word “elect.” Whatever else it means, these commands and promises are for the children of God, those who are reborn into His family because of faith in Jesus Christ. God’s wrath on my sin has already been poured out, not on me but on my Savior. Because of Jesus, I am God’s elect, His child.

The second thing God showed me is that He has compassion on His kids. He wants to right wrongs, but is also like a parent who dotes over his precious children — and my heavenly Father puts me into that precious category. Anyone who touches me, hits Him in His most vulnerable place.

For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye! (Zechariah 2:8)

Saul (who later became Paul) also discovered this truth the hard way. He was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, and went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

Bent on persecuting Christians, “he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (Acts 9:1–5)

The compassion of Almighty God is such that He became a man and took my punishment, but He also lives in those who belong to Him. Whatever happens to me, He shares the experience. Whenever someone hurts me, likea rose trampled on the ground…  He steps forward and takes the blows upon Himself. 

(Image source)