A paragraph in today’s reading again reminds me of the importance of being filled with God’s Spirit and living by His power. It says:
A cross Christian; an anxious Christian; a discouraged, gloomy Christian; a doubting Christian; a complaining Christian; an exacting Christian; a selfish Christian; a cruel, hard-hearted Christian; a self-indulgent Christian; a Christian with a sharp tongue or bitter spirit—all these may be very earnest in their work and have honorable places in the church, but they are not Christlike Christians.
I’m not to do my own thing. Being like Jesus is being joyful, at peace, confident in God’s care, thankful, careful, unselfish, soft-hearted, unconcerned for myself, thoughtful in speech, prayerful, understanding others, meeting needs… a long list of virtue and grace. It is not just serving others but loving from the heart, both my God and His people, and having a heart of mercy toward those still in darkness and bound in sin.
This week we experienced some time with people who do much for the Lord in public but in private they were disagreeable and not like Jesus in their attitude toward some of the people they serve. It was an awkward place to be. I wanted to defend those criticized and rebuke those doing the complaining, yet the complainers need mercy and grace too. Those they attacked have a deep faith in the Lord that was being misinterpreted. I thought of this verse:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
How do I do that? How can those who justify their frustrations with their history of service be shown that good works do not make up for unkind accusations? How can I, who am also a sinner, tell others that their heart attitude is far more valuable to God than all that they do in His name? Besides that, these are people who name Jesus as their Savior and are not outsiders who know nothing about grace. For this You warn me:
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)
Tread lightly. Pray with compassion. Allow the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done — and speak only if He tells me to speak. But most importantly, learn from this to be filled with God’s Spirit all the time, living by His grace and power for I don’t know who will ring the doorbell next, or who will phone or text, or who will ask me blunt questions. Life is not predictable. Surprises happen. The only way to be ready for anything is to keep focus:
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)
This passage from the NT says the same thing, adding that a focus on Jesus also reminds me that my problems are nothing like what He endured. Focusing on Him keeps me from feeling sorry for myself…
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:1–4)
PRAY: Jesus, right now You are not compelling me to “do something” but to pray and trust You to be the heart-changer. While being a peace-maker is appealing and the stuff of Christlike servants, it could easily take my focus off You and be an ego-builder for me. I wait on You for direction, yet hope for a lovely surprise. Those who seem to be walking in the flesh are Your children and You are able to make them stand. That also includes me.
Each day brings new problems. Not only do I want God’s will for solutions, but I wonder about the nature and the reasons for whatever happens. I realize this could be human curiosity, even sinful seeking for gossipy tidbits, but my heart deeply wants to know how to pray. Understanding people starts with understanding myself, yet I know that not everyone thinks the same, nor do they interpret others the same.
An example recently revealed that friends we see as open and transparent are not viewed like that by others. It came out when these friends withheld information from those they do not trust and were viewed as secretive, even deceptive and called liars, which is not true. Guesses and conjecture. I’m beginning to realize why some say their relationships are ‘complicated’ and difficult to manage.
Hubby and I discuss issues like this one and conclude that many problems are God’s to solve. I have no idea how to let a person know that they are not trusted and told everything. How does anyone tell another person that their inability to listen is off-putting, or that laughing at a sad story is hurtful, or that always talking about themself makes listeners feel belittled. Conviction of sin is not my job. This is what God says to me today:
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:14–19)
The word ‘holy’ means having superior moral qualities yet goes beyond that as possessing divine qualities in contrast with what is human. God is unlike us, “other than” and beyond our goodness. He is described in the Bible in understandable terms, yet His fullness goes beyond familiar words.
I am reading “The Existence and Attributes of God” by Stephan Charnock that attempts to make known the realities of who God is in this lengthy, two-volume set. It is incredibly convicting as it describes the contrast between God’s thinking and human understanding. It also clearly describes the difference between being Spirit-filled and living according to our old nature.
Charnock is convicting, but God is using his book to help me figure out why I do things and why other people do things. Sometimes the fleshy old nature is subtle and many Christians do not realize what makes them tick, never mind what makes others tick. However, in puzzling relationships, Charnock’s explanations are helping me know how to pray when I see any Christian conformed to the world and seem without the discernment to realized this as a problem.
God calls His people to a life of entire consecration and perfect trust. We must come out from the world and be separate, setting our minds and affections on heavenly things, not on earthly ones. Jesus said I must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, surrendering every thing that would interfere with this, and walk through the world as Christ walked — with His mind and His tenderhearted kindness for one another, forgiving them as God forgave us. I am to return good for evil, seek the honor of others and not stand up for my own rights. I must be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven me. I must be gentle, meek, and yielding, not standing up for my own rights but for the rights of others. I must do everything not for my own glory but for the glory of God. This means I’m to be holy as God is holy, not like the world but like Jesus.
PRAY: In all the messes around me, I hear You telling me to keep my eyes on You, to be like You when confronted, or when others are walking in the flesh and expect me to get on their side. You always know what to say to those whose attitude is sinful. I don’t. So far, I can see such problems, pray for them, but am anxious that my sinful flesh does not pop up and harshly tell them they are in error. You show me in such kind ways and do not shame me when I act foolishly, so this is a hard place to be. Teach me to do and say the best thing when it is needed, and help me to keep my mouth shut when there is nothing You want me to do besides fervently praying.
Last night, every prayer request involved situations over which none of us have any control or ability or even ideas about what to do. They involved broken relationships, lack of opportunities, and others making poor or even dangerous decisions. Today’s devotional is about letting go of our possessions, yet this and those prayer requests require the same attitude — total trust in God.
Broken relationships prompted: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5–6) God is able to turn hearts even in these days of split families and feuds between people and nations. While I am responsible to live at peace with those in my life, there is nothing I can do that will change the wars in the world or bring peace between fathers and children. Surely we need to trust the Lord God to change things.
Lack of opportunities can involve everything from wanting a job, wanting a new car, to wanting a husband. Waiting on the Lord does not mean sitting and waiting for the phone to ring, yet in human searching for changes or new things, the doors can be repeatedly closed. My best efforts do not automatically mean success. Writers can send book proposals to dozens of editors. Skilled workers can submit resumes to dozens of employers. People can belong to several match-making groups yet still be disappointed. God must be trusted to open doors.
Paul and Silas were in jail — praying, singing and worshiping God. They did not look for a way to escape yet…
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. (Acts 16:26)
Even then, the opportunity was not for escape but to lead the jailer and his household to faith in Jesus Christ. We have an Almighty God who can open literal doors as well as doors of opportunities to do His will.
As for decision making, He says:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8)
This is an incredible promise even though it comes with a caveat; I must ask in faith that God will answer. Why do I need to be certain? Because God’s answers are often not what I expect. What if I wanted wisdom for buying a new car and He told me not to buy a car at all? What if I wanted wisdom for other choices and His choice was not on my list? This happens, and I must not let my I-wants clash with His wisdom because, as these verses say, my I-wants will mess with my faith. When they are strong, I tend to assume they come from God and make me think He will do whatever I want. Again, this calls for prayer but also a plea to be yielded to the will of God and to whatever He knows is best for me. And this is how I can pray for others — for wisdom and faith, both from God and given by His goodness.
PRAY: Lord, each day is filled with choices, never mind prayer needs that I cannot begin to do anything about, even pray specifically for because I don’t know what You want done in many situations. Surely I need wisdom in prayer as well as in taking action. Grant this to me today for all decisions, including what I need to do and what I need to avoid. May Your will be done in my life and in the lives of the people in my heart and in my prayers. And as I prayed yesterday, guide me in what to give away and what You want me to hold unto.
