Getting older? Or Getting better?

How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. (Proverbs 6:9–15)

This is a discouraging passage for a person who has always been industrious and is now aging and wants to nap more than be busy. But there is a difference between the sluggard and the octogenarian. The older person is tired, not lazy, still wants to be doing things, is not trying to trick others into doing everything for him.

Yet those sluggard ideas pop up. My old nature would shirk responsibilities and complain about the work anyone else did for me. I’d never be satisfied and never take on hard challenges.

It is a challenging season. I had an older friend who used to say, “I don’t know how to be ninety.” At the time, I didn’t understand, but now realize the conflict. My body and my mind do not agree with each other. Had I been a sluggard all my life, this would not be an issue. 

New friends are helpful. One of my neighbors is ninety and going strong. Her mind is sharp and she is busy with family and happy all the time. It is possible to know how to be ninety. I’m not there yet, but should the Lord grant me that many birthdays, He has already given me a few role-models, but most of all, Himself:

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:1–8)

This is such a far cry from being a sluggard who stirs up trouble and cares for no one but herself. 

Lord Jesus, it is okay to have a nap, but not to avoid responsibilities. Sleep is okay for those who are tired from labor. You bless those who think good thoughts, and who are not always stirring up trouble. Your goal for me is even better than being “a sweet little old lady” — You want me to be to be like You.

Pattern for Christian Growth

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah, I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:5–11)

This is a summary of the Christian life. It begins with an awareness of sin and failure, and with the Lord coming with forgiveness and giving great joy. It continues with repetition — sin exposed, forgiveness and cleansing, then great joy. 

This is not about being saved over and over, but being made clean, measuring up to the what He has already done. The sin He brings to my attention might be a current disobedience, or it might be a life-attitude that needs to go because it is hindering me from being like Jesus. Whatever the Holy Spirit reveals, I must acknowledge lest it continues to mess with this wonderful new life in Christ.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)

 After discovering this pattern, I’ve long been convinced that this is God's way of transforming my life and the more I cooperate, the closer He seems.

Jesus. Thank You for being my Redeemer, for working on and in my life, for granting me the privilege of being Your forever child, and granting great joy even in the tough times. You are indeed all I need. 

Ultimate sacrifice…

The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. (1 Samuel 1:21–28)

How can I not think of God’s ultimate sacrifice when reading about Hannah giving up her only son. She prayed for him and God gave him to her and she gave him back to God. This points to God giving up His only son. I cannot assume the full reasons behind her sacrifice except that Eli’s sons were worthless men, unfit to serve the Lord or even obey their father. 
But little Samuel was not like that. Instead, “the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.” (1 Samuel 2:26) Early in life, he pointed to the One who would come.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

I often sing “Oh to be like Thee” with descriptions of the Lord such as blessed, pure, sweet, compassionate, loving, forgiving, tender, kind, helping, cheering, lowly in spirit, holy, harmless, patient, brave, enduring reproaches, and willing to suffer. All this for the sake of sinners. Sometimes I ask myself if I really want to be like Jesus. I try to sing it like a prayer, willing to make the necessary sacrifices. Or would I rather be comfortable?

Do many Christians sing such a song without realizing what we are asking? Like Hannah? She gave the most precious gift from God back to Him. For me, it is more like “the most precious gifts” including my loved ones, abilities, comforts too. Little Samuel was willing to listen and do what God asked of Him. Am I? 

Jesus, some days that kind of yielding is easy, but not always. The Father was willing to give You up that sinners like me could be forgiven and live. To be like You means to say yes to whatever You ask. Some days that kind of yielding is difficult but Your goal is to use all things for good — to transform me into being like You, even if the process is painful. Keep my thoughts on being like You, no matter what. I know my tendency to protest. 

Jesus is all I need…

How good to read a Bible book in one sitting. God gives me a big picture look, yet this one is filled with sparkling highlights. I am blessed by the author’s attitude as Paul wrote it from prison. First, he gives great assurance:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) 

Then he shows me how to think about today’s TV evangelists that are so obviously preaching with personal motives:

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, (1:12–18)

God keeps speaking to me though, about the same thing: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (2:3–4)

He wants me to be like Timothy who is “genuinely concerned” for the welfare of others. He also wants me to “count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” and consider any of it as “rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own.” I’m to be willing to “share His sufferings” knowing that He will rescue me, even from death.(3:7–11)

I can’t ever think I’ve arrived, put must press on (3:12–14) rejoicing in the Lord as I live for Him. He is with me so I need not get anxious about anything, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let my requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus." (4:4–7)

He tells me how to think so I’m at peace, and teaches me how to respond when brought low or abound, to face plenty or hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me because my God will supply every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (4:8-19)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I sit here in worship, filled with joy and peace. “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 You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25–26)

LATER: Today, our granddaughter was able to get up from her hospital bed and walk around it — first time since her terrible fall two months ago! She still has a cast and a brace on her arms, and her exploded knee is tightly wrapped, but we are elated at God’s blessing on her and the good healing of her other leg.

Wait and see that God is good…

   

These days I’m more verbal about God’s purposes for trials. From the beginning, He taught me that He uses them for good. At first I thought that meant ‘feel good’ or comfort, but then learned it was the good of being transformed into the image of His Son:

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)

That doesn’t always feel good, at least the process. I’m reading the story of Joseph, a story that is such a blessing as long as it is read to the end. Joseph’s life was not comfortable for many years. He’d been pampered at home, and that could have ruined him, but God had other ideas. His jealous brothers sold him into slavery and although he did well wherever he landed, he was mistreated. But he was also aware. In the end, when he rescued his family from famine and his brothers expected retaliation for what they had done, he said to them:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:20)

Without that ending, it would seem that people, circumstances, and even the Lord was against Joseph, but somehow he knew that his Father in heaven had better plans for him. He had been the favorite of his father, hated by his older brothers, a victim of false teaching, put into prison, but wound up second in command of Egypt!

All of this was preparation, as the prophet later said, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:27)

This makes me think of my trials when younger. I spent much time in a hospital bed, didn’t get to school with others until grade seven, learned to love being alone, but later married an alcoholic who had many heart-breaking faults. As women often do, I blamed myself and that led me to seek something better. Then Jesus, the greatest ‘better’ came into my life. However, I married an unsaved man without realizing this was not a good idea. I spent ten years wondering if God would ever change Him, not realizing that He was changing me.

There is more in this story, but reading Joseph’s story helps me see what God was doing in all the dark places, in the more than thirty moves, in the trials of raising children, and many struggles learning what it means to walk with God instead of trusting myself, I saw how God was using this for my good.

Now I do not look at trials with fear or dread or suspecting God has forgotten me. I can also urge others to embrace what they are learning or will learn about Him from what He will do in their dark situations. We do question God when His ways seem strange or do not make sense, but that is only because our focus is on the problem rather than on our mighty and gracious Savior. He knows what good He will do even when we cannot see it yet. Instead of praying, “Take this away” it’s a good idea to pray, “Surprise me” and wait. As the psalmist says: “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” (Psalm 119:71)

PRAY: Jesus, I know that many of Your people are struggling, not only with world events but also personal distresses, relationship issues, finances, all sorts of things. May all be encouraged and look to You, and even learn to say, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2) whether we can see it yet or must wait for a while longer.

My Need for God’s Spirit

Christian discernment notices things that  otherwise would be missed. For instance, when another believer is filled with the Spirit, the attitudes or fruit that the Spirit produces are very obvious to a discerning mind. Because this happens, God’s grace is richly recognized and enjoyed. Rather than crediting a spirit-filled person for being nice, God is glorified as He should be. However, if a believer is walking in the flesh, discernment easily senses selfishness, or rudeness, knowing that this doe not come from the Holy Spirit. Fleshy behavior is the opposite of godly behavior. The difference is described in Scripture by comparing the two:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

Fleshy behavior is selfish, but not always discerned as such. I need to watch how I react to it. If someone is rude to me, my reaction could be critical or anger or wanting to retaliate. Yet God tells my to be discerning and pray for that person. They are not walking in the Spirit and need to get back on track. If I am offended by what they did and react in a fleshy way, then I am not walking in the Spirit either.

How is it even possible to respond rightly to the sin of others? Is it not because of Jesus? Because He died as my substitute and took my penalty for sin, He also lives as my substitute and gives me His life as my righteousness. Today’s readings verify this:

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18–19)

The law of God requires not only that I am without sin, but also that I am completely obedient to holiness. I am to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and being, and others as myself. This righteousness Christ performs for me as my Substitute. In Him, I’m to obey God  through the power of the Holy Spirit. I do not have to live by the dictates of my old nature, no matter how others treat me.

The Bible says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness and that when God imputed the righteousness of Christ to us, He was made my righteousness. In other words, I have the righteousness of God in Christ. This is not just about my legal standing before God, but about my state in this world. He makes it happen by filling me with His Spirit so I can walk in obedience.

Galatians 5 begins with, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) This refers to the slavery of sin, of living by my old nature, which is sinful. It goes on. . . .  

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:13–18)

Fleshy behavior is not only sin against God and a lack of love for Him, it is sinful against others, and that lack of love can offend and hurt them. However, if I’m on the receiving end, I’m not to retaliate but do what Jesus does — die to it and intercede for the other person, not only with a spirit of forgiveness but pray that God will work in their lives so they realize their fleshy motivations and actions, confess them, and ask for His fullness so they are filled with the fruit that only the Holy Spirit can produce:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

PRAY: Lord, my flesh resents my own flesh behavior, never mind the things others do apart from Your Spirit. Enable me to respond to whatever others do in the same way You respond to me — with love, patience and kindness as you gently show me how deeply I also need self-control that comes from Your amazing righteousness. I do not have any of this without You and need You every day, every hour, every moment of my life.

Seeing Jesus – Seeing what needs to change

 

This vacation and observations of my attitude while away from home show the importance of understanding what is coming from the Holy Spirit and what is a demand of the flesh. If I use the lists of sinful attitudes in Scripture, I can easily make excuses for selfish behavior. Most of them a horrid things that I’d never do.

This reminds me of the five-year-old in a discussion of sin. She said, “But I’ve never murdered anyone” and to her thinking, she was not a sinner. If we rate sin that way, excuses come easily.

One clue to the subtlety of sin is in the words of the OT prophet: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) This describes sin as turning to my own way rather than living in God’s way. This means if something looks good, even though it is selfishly motivated and for my own glory, it can be justified or excused. I could think that only the really bad actions are sin.

Yesterday I felt like leaving this place and going home to my Christian friends who sin at times but it is not their lifestyle. But the Lord reminded me that He did not do that. He came to this sin-soaked planet to save the lost. I’m in this place to be like Jesus and not do my own thing – including running away from what is difficult or unpleasant.
However, it is not just knowing myself and my sinfulness. This is only discovered by knowing what the Lord Jesus Christ is like and willingly let His Spirit make a comparison to show me His intentions and His goal for me.

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)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:1–3)

God is my Father and I am His child – an infant really. When I ‘grow up’ I will be like His Son, perfected when I see Him, but in process while here and while God uses all things to work in me that likeness. I’m to see Jesus as clearly as I can, and that is the work of the Holy Spirit who reveals Him to me...

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

It is in beholding Jesus that I see what I am not, but also how He changes me. Instead of wanting to run to my comfort zone yesterday, He showed me Himself and it became easier to “eat and drink” with those who don’t know Him. This is why I am here.

PRAY: Jesus, Your Word and Your people give me a vision of what I am not, and what I need to confess so You can forgive and cleanse me (1 John 1:9). I know I bear “the image of the man of dust” but will “also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49) and am thankful to be alert to both the old that needs to be changed, and the new that is my destiny – all because of Your incredible grace!

God is Merciful… be like Him

 

There is one person I’ve had a problem with being kind or merciful toward. This person annoys me and while I know what is done, I cannot figure out why that behavior is so frustrating. At times it seems as if this person is a fake, insincere or not real, showing only what will impress others. I’m not impressed.

However, God tells me that I am not responding the right way and need to put aside my attitude and do what is best for this other person. One, changing my attitude seems impossible. Two, how can I know what is best for that person if they are not transparent about their own needs?

God had me read the following chapter this morning. I need to read it again:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:1–23)

The italicized portion is my part to obey. Instead of being angry at someone, the Lord wants me to let Him have His way and like a glove with His hand, do whatever He asks of me, whether I feel like it or not. And obedience is from the heart, not a pretense lest I do what most annoys me in that other person: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6) or any obedience that is ritual rather than real.

PRAY: Lord, my attitude must be Your attitude for I know that this other person may never change or please me — but that is Your concern. Mine is to listen and learn from You, and to be filled with Your Spirit so I will know and do whatever You know and do. Enable wisdom and obedience lest I sin against You and anyone else.

I’m not the center of my world…

After writing yesterday’s devotional thoughts about glorifying God instead of ME, my emotions went from joy to sadness, but at first the reason was not apparent. Later, it became obvious that I really would like to glorify me. The train image of facts < faith < feelings came to mind and I thought about the facts of what Jesus has done, then realized this was just ME trying to bring back the joy. I could hear the Lord asking — was having His joy more important than having Him? The day seemed long and I went to bed thinking if this was what He wanted for me, then I had to accept it. But did I want to? Not much.

This morning’s reading puts forward another thought that I must agree with. It begins with this word from Jesus:

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:38–40)

The devotional writer points out how some people think they are humble and lowly in heart when they say bitter and disparaging things about themselves. This is not true. Most do not realize that the giant ME is as much exalted and puffed up by self-blame as by self-praise. I agree. That old nature is so greedy for attention that if it cannot be praised, it would rather be criticized than not noticed at all.

This means thinking bad things about myself is almost as good as thinking good of myself because saying, “I am so bad” gets ME thinking that I am humble. I’ve known this truth, even taught others how the flesh will take negative attention as well as positive just as long as the attention is on ME. Both extremes are sinful and hold a definition of humility that is not biblical.

Yesterday, my thoughts about glorifying the Lord were biblically correct, but that was not humility for I found myself thinking it was good of me to take that stand. As the devotional writer says, “what can be more delicious to self-love than to hear itself applauded for seeming to be humble?”

So I’m not really what I should be. The truly meek and lowly heart does not want to talk about ME at all, either for good or evil. The power of Christ is there and to be glorified from the heart, not mere lip service because it is the right thing to do. No wonder the Holy Spirit let me experience His grief at my correct but insincere words. He says:

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Romans 12:3)

C. S. Lewis adds that true humility does not think highly or lowly of self, but does not think about self at all. My focus for the family reunion needs to be on those who attend, not on what I need to do to make this a great event, etc. I also need to remember Jesus in the garden saying, “Not my will but thine be done.” And remember what Paul wrote about the Lord’s humility:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:3–8)

PRAY: Jesus, You live in me and the only way I can get my mind off ME is to think with Your mind and not my old nature. Apart from You, I can do nothing (true) but in You, all things are possible. Have Your way in my heart, no matter how impossible it might seem.

 

God’s will accomplish His plan…

 

When puzzled by what is happening around me, or in the lives of others, I need to remember the important truth behind all of God’s dealings with us. Nothing is random. Nothing escapes His notice and nothing can thwart His purposes. The worst I can do is prolong His goal for me. The best I can do is see it and cooperate with it.

This is HIs goal:

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)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:1–3)

The end result of what happens to me and to all God’s people is that we will be like Jesus. The process can be hastened by cooperation, by making that my goal also. But I cannot fake it, put on a show of having arrived, or even think that is true. I need to keep growing and changing.

I also have to remember that this isn’t just about me. It is about the witness of God’s people to a world that needs to know Him.

Today’s reading begins with: “All the dealings of God with the soul of the believer are in order to bring it into oneness with himself that the prayer of our Lord may be fulfilled.” In this prayer Jesus asks that the Father works:

“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:21–23)

This glorious purpose has been the heart of God for His people from before the foundation of the world. It is called a mystery yet was accomplished in the death of Christ and made known by the Scriptures. It is also an actual experience by many of God’s people, but not all. This goal is not hidden it nor is it impossible. However, as the reading says, the eyes of many are too dim and their hearts too unbelieving for them to grasp it.

This goal is behind many events in life as the Lord works to open eyes and shake up how we think and live. He wants me to realize my sin, my weakness, all areas of resistance to Him so I will think and act more like the One who lives in me and desires my perfection.

Everything in my life is supposed to lead to union with Christ and this amazing transformation that reflects His image to an unbelieving and needy world. When something happens that upsets my hopes and plans, trying to fix it instead of letting it do what God intends only slows the process. If I resist and keep on resisting Him, the change will eventually happen but too late to have value in this world. Not only that, I will not experience the rest and peace that He died to give me, His abundant life in this life.

PRAY: Jesus, I realize that many Christians are not into this kind of radical surrender. Sometimes they pray as if You are a genie in a bottle giving wishes out for comfort and prosperity and all good, but temporary things. Forgive us for wanting You to be our servant instead of surrendering ourselves to Your purposes. How often do I need “your peace in my storms” to realize that being like You IS the abundant life You want for me.

Chastening hurts? Or helps?

 

Yesterday was a delight. God granted great joy and opportunities to encourage others in their faith. I woke early this morning thinking of all that God was teaching me and how I wanted to be useful to Him. He reminded me of this:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

Paul was called to do what he did. I’ve never had a sense of a call, only the ‘next step’ and this has sometimes been a concern. Yet I see now that God has used me as I obey Him, not in an official church position or a ministry with a name attached, but to speak truth. Years of leading Bible studies is part of that. Lately it is just talking with people, three of them yesterday who thanked me, even though I felt it was me who should thank them.

One writer says it is easier to serve God without a vision or a call because common sense can easily replace His requirements. I’ve never felt that I have common sense. I only know that the Father wants me to be like His Son and that has been my goal. He continually lights my darkness and is on my mind. I know what it means to not account my life precious to myself, but I also know the discipline needed from God to think that way and not be concerned about my usefulness, only that I belong to Him and He loves me.

Yet with that love comes what is needed to become what He wants me to be. He uses all things, some pleasing and some that feel like punishment. But God’s idea of punishment is the parental idea of chastening. According to Webster, chastening means “to inflict pain upon anyone in order to purify from errors or faults.” This means:

The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” … For (our fathers) 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 12:6, 10)

To build my character and transform me, what happens to me is not as important as who I am and what God is trying to make of me, both for now and for eternity.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17–18)

Affliction seems less harsh if I can focus on the outcome. Another writer illustrates it with the words of a village blacksmith:  

“When I am tempering a piece of steel, I first heat it, hammer it, and then suddenly plunge it into this bucket of cold water. I very soon find whether it will take temper or go to pieces in the process. When I discover after one or two tests that it is not going to allow itself to be tempered, I throw it on the scrap heap and sell it for a cent a pound when the junk man comes around. So I find the Lord tests me, too, by fire and water and heavy blows of His heavy hammer, and if I am not willing to stand the test, or am not going to prove a fit subject for His tempering process, I am afraid He may throw me on the scrap heap.”

Job was more confident, at least at times. He said it this way: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10)
A poet wrote it this way:

“Things that hurt and things that mar
Shape the man for perfect praise;
Shock and strain and ruin are
Friendlier than the smiling days.”

PRAY: Jesus, I am understanding Your love for me with a much broader perspective. Being “God’s spoiled brat” has brought much enjoyment, but I now see being God’s disciplined child is a far greater joy. Thank You for loving me while still a sinner, but loving me so much that You are not leaving me like that. I’ve never wanted to be on the shelf or in the scrap heap.

Modern Pharisees

Current thinking can be confusing. Some say there is no God; others are fully convinced. They cannot both be true beliefs BUT current thinking says, ‘What is true for you is not true for me.’ For many, truth has become a matter of opinion.

Christians can struggle with this same way of defining truth. Sometimes our differing interpretations cause divisions if we don’t dig deep enough to determine what biblical passages really say or mean. Failing to rightly understand Scripture can result in mild disagreement, or vigorous discussion, or church splits, and even be at the root of cults being formed.

Another issue is the concept of “rhema” where the term used for “word of God” means the Holy Spirit is using a passage to speak to the need of the moment. For instance, I may have read a verse many times about God’s abiding presence but during a period of loneliness, it felt like God was giving me a hug with that verse.

God also gives His people individual instructions. One NT incident is when the Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to Seleucia (Acts 13) but forbid them to go to Asia and Bithynia. (Acts 16).

This reminds me of a former pastor who announced he was leaving the ministry. Our church was confused and trying to come up with a reason for his decision. Did someone treat him badly? The confusion was filled with opinions based on experiences people could relate to, so finally I decided to ask him why he decided to resign. He listened to my question and concerns, then slapped his desk and said, “None of that applies. I am doing this because the Lord told me to do it.”

Does this mean that truth for one person differs from truth for others? In God’s leading and personal ministry it might — but not every pastor is told to resign. Whatever I hear, I need to make sure it fits with Scripture. I knew of a woman who thought God told her to divorce her husband for another man. That does not line up with the Bible.

During Christ’s time, there were religious leaders who measured truth by their interpretation of OT laws. If a law was not understood, they added another one to supposedly clarify it. This resulted in hundreds of regulations that nobody could possibly obey. These Pharisees vehemently opposed the teaching of Jesus. He was concerned with the human heart and being motivated by the Holy Spirit. They were more into outward appearance and impressing people. When Jesus claimed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6) He even  confused the disciples. Do we humans like rules? Are they easier to follow than listening to the heart of God and studying His Word?
We are saved by faith and are told to walk by faith. The Word guides us with truth requiring faith especially when God tells us to do something that makes no sense.

Consider Abraham. God told him to go to a land He would show him. The man set out without a clue about his destination but trusting God. Later, God told him to sacrifice his son. How would I interpret that command from God had I been Abraham or Isaac? What did that boy think as his dad tied him to the altar and raised his knife? Was there a “rule” that would make this command even palatable, never mind true?

This matter of rules can also be challenging when God puts His people in situations that call for us to follow Jesus even if others misunderstand the heart of His request. Some think we are breaking the rules when we show kindness to sinners — because it might look like we are approving their sin. Some suppose we are breaking the rules when we do things contrary to their personal comfort level. Bring like  Jesus can make us targets instead of examples.

This should not happen but it does. Instead of “loving one another” in the Spirit, judgment and criticism threatens our unity and fellowship and mars our witness to a needy world who need to see the grace of God rather than the ugliness of living by rules and self-righteousness.

PRAY: Oh Lord, You tell me to walk in the Spirit even though much of the world resists You and are convinced that their rules are better. I too can slide into that “I am right” attitude when it seems more comfortable than doing what You ask — especially when Your commands to me are going to upset or challenge the person sitting next to me at church. I’m encouraged by these words:

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. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1)

May my only rule say this: Be like Jesus.

Love Forgives

 

Many years ago, I was given the task of teaching a seminar on forgiveness. Research and prayer revealed misconceptions, such as “forgive and forget” and “I’ll forgive when they repent.” However, does God ever forget anything in the sense that it is totally gone from His mind? Hardly. Nor did He wait for us to change our ways before He sent Jesus? No, Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)

The bottom line for my presentation was that to forgive means to not hold the sin of others against them. Yes, it will come to mind. Yes, the pain may persist or pop up at times, but forgiveness refuses to be angry or resentful toward the person that hurt me. Besides, am I totally innocent of ever doing harm to someone else? Not at all.

MacArthur’s devotional says, “If you love someone, you won’t keep a record of their offenses.” That means no holding of grudges and being firmly determined that when the offense comes to mind, thinking I have forgiven that offense just as Jesus has forgiven my sins. It also means intercession for that other person, praying that they experience God’s grace in their lives.

One Bible translation says that love “does not take into account a wrong suffered.” (1 Corinthians 13:5) This is an accounting term and illustrates that love is like a bookkeeper’s refusal to enter a transaction into his ledger. Love does not keep a record or hold others accountable for their sins against me. This is what Jesus does:

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. (Romans 4:8)

In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them . . . (2 Corinthians 5:19)

At the end of this last verse, it says God entrusts to me the message of reconciliation. He charges me to tell others about His forgiveness — and how can I do it if I don’t know it for myself and am not saved, or if I have been forgiven but refuse to forgive others? Jesus even put forgiveness into His teaching on prayer:

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors . . . . For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:12–15)

The NT says many times that I must be like Jesus and do what God did through Him (and still does): “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

PRAY: Jesus, I’m so grateful that You “live forever to intercede for me” because it seems at times that I will forever need it. Yet what hope and wonder to think of living with You in eternity without sin. As I dance around Your throne in the joy of banished sin, I may also chuckle at another reason You have made forgiveness easier for me — holding a grudge takes a lot of energy and I’ve not been gifted with enough stamina to stay angry for very long! This makes me smile too. Thank you. And lest anyone think forgiving others is easy, I can testify to experiencing deep wounds and the struggle to finally forgive, to no longer hold any anger against those who hurt me, even though in some situations repentance and apologies never happened. It helps to realize that You forgive for Your own name’s sake and that I need to do the same, that I might be a forgiving person like You, not  vindictive and wanting to get even. Your grace is sufficient and I am so glad that You remind me often of Your great forgiveness for my sins too.

PONDER: Matthew 18:21–35 again and make sure I am obedient to what Jesus taught in this parable!