Thankful to be here…

I belong to two quilting groups. One is an ‘official’ guild and the other is a group of mostly Christian women who get together to work on their various projects. Even though both groups have those who are concerned about the well-being of others, the guild has many rules and bylaws that apply to all aspects of what is done. While not completely secular, it is not the same as the smaller group. In that one, all decisions are spontaneous and based on what will most bless other people.

A few days ago, God reminded me that I am an exile living as an ambassador for Him in this foreign place. My citizenship is in heaven and He tells me to live here as He told His OT people to live in Babylon where they were exiles:

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:4–7)

Since this was true for God’s exiles in Babylon, it would seem to be even more true for Christian exiles in this very “Babylonian” world. What then shall we do? As Piper writes, we should do the ordinary things that need to be done: build houses, live in them, plant gardens, and so on. This does not contaminate me if I do it all for the real King and not just for eye service as men-pleasers.

That is, many artistic people can become involved in accomplishment and competition, the human desire to be noticed and glorified. That no longer interests me. I’ve been scolded for not entering my quilts in the shows and competitions. God is using the difference between these two groups to bring out the reason that I do what I do; it is not to pin another ribbon to my wall.

Yesterday, one of the small group members dropped into our mini-retreat. She had not been well-liked but when she left to have surgery on her back, some of us prayed diligently that God would heal her attitudes as well as her back. One of the quilters decided to make her a special quilt. She said she even argued with God about it, wanted to keep it for herself, but this inner voice kept telling her who it was for. When that labor of love was given to the other woman, the results were dramatic. No one had ever shown love to her like that. She was overwhelmed with joy expressed in many tears.

Seek the welfare of the city where God has sent you, or the neighborhood or wherever I am at. Think of myself as sent to this place by God, because I am. I’m to pray for those around me, as well as pray what Piper calls ‘metro prayers’ that ask for great and good things to happen in this city. He is not indifferent to the welfare of this “foreign” town. Besides, the welfare of our city affects the welfare of His people.

I’m not to abandon my sense of being an exile, nor succumb to the pull of worldly attractions. It does feel good to win prizes and be honored. But this morning I am reminded that I will do the most good for this city and this world by getting my values from the “city which is to come” (Hebrews 13:14). I’m to call as many of its citizens as i can to be citizens of the “Jerusalem above” (Galatians 4:26). 

PRAY: Lord, You never got caught up in the profits of being a carpenter or the fame of healing the sick, even raising the dead. Grant me the grace and wisdom to live so that the people around me will want to meet You. I’ve already learned that gifting them with a quilt is a step in the right direction. All agree that the hard work with much time and money spent is nothing compared to the joy of those who see Your love expressed to them in this very ordinary task. Thank You for putting me in this place.

Update: Our granddaughter had two surgeries yesterday and more to come. Half of her right knee is crushed and she cannot walk yet. She was found to have a broken thumb in her right hand that had not been discovered with all her other injuries. Again, we are amazed at her bright attitude and cheerful spirit. Only God. 

My country is. . . .

A friend here from another country is seeking permanent resident status. National laws and red tape make the process slow and cumbersome. A few urge her to be aggressive and put more pressure on various agencies to get her citizenship status changed, but she is not going to do that. As a Christian, she knows that no matter what happens here, her true citizenship is not on this earth. 

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:18–21)

Many biblical passages affirm that those who are in the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ are not of this world. However, this does not mean we can ignore the responsibility of living here. Our friend has a job. She takes serious the work she is given even though her abilities are not used to the full. She would not dream of abusing the privileges or freedoms she has. 

While those born in this country might resent those who come here a refugees, most of the refugees we know are hard-working and thankful people. They are doing what God charged His people to do when they were exiled to Babylon. In that OT narrative, and contrary to what they might have expected, God told them:

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:4–7)

For those who realize their true citizenship is in heaven, and even though we will inherit the earth when it is made new in the kingdom (Revelation 21:1), nevertheless in a profound sense this world is not our home. The Bible says that when we are away from our bodies we will be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). For that reason, we are not to be conformed to this world in our attitudes and lifestyle. Our lives “are hid with Christ in God” and we have been “rescued … from the domain of darkness and transferred … to the kingdom of his beloved Son” and have “passed out of death and into life.” Clearly, we are exiles and strangers here, and here to bring glory to the God who has adopted us as His people.

Reading the Bible shows me what that means. I’m to love God and my neighbor, do to others in the way I want to be treated, honor the Lord, respect those in authority over me, and obey all that the Lord says. Being “in this world, but not of this world” is not always easy for the ways of God are not the same as human or worldly ways. This is why our friend is not fighting for any “human rights” — she knows the privilege of being a citizen of a far greater realm than this one.

PRAY: Lord, I am thankful that my status is not mere ‘pie in the sky’ but being an ambassador in this foreign land as a citizen of Your kingdom. I represent heaven on earth, an amazing status and a great responsibility. How I need Your grace and enabling to be what You have called me to be, and serve You instead of bowing to all that this world offers. 

Put off the old way…

People who immigrate to another country face several challenges. Food differences is one of them. One family still serves what they ate in their former home, but their children like the food in their new country. Another person who has been here several years and applying for citizenship goes to markets for food from her former culture and she will not even try many foods from this new culture.

This illustrates the challenge to change that faces new Christians. We are told to worship God and that we are ambassadors of heaven (our new home) living in this world. While we are here, we are to live according to our new identity, even in how we think, and abandon our former way of life.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)

Mind renewal means learning to think with the mind of Christ, a wonderful gift from God to enable adjustment to living in this world. The Bible says we must consider it a ‘foreign’ culture compared to our new life in Christ. This is not just about Sundays or meal times but all the time. This is a challenge, even a battle.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:3–6)

Complete obedience is a clue to how long this might take. Living in the flesh means governing my own life without considering the will of God. I was nearly thirty when God gave me new life so had many years of living in that ‘culture’ before He changed my citizenship. Learning His ways is one challenge; living them and thinking as He thinks increases the challenge. He says “take every thought captive” and “being ready to punish every disobedience” — which translates into learning and doing to the point that His will becomes as natural and my old way of thinking had been.

This is not about a new snack every now and then to adjust to being a new person. This is a full-meal deal of learning to think how Christ would think if He was in my circumstances. In other words, I’m to feed on Him and be nourished by the true Bread of Life that comes from heaven, not by the old ways of thinking.

When David sinned, he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) This is part of it; rejecting that old way and confessing each time I choose it, then asking God to forgive and cleanse me. He tells me to reject all that is sinful:

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:8–10)

PRAY: Lord, the battle for my mind is also a battle for my habits, even my thoughts. I realize the power of the old self with its subtle yet deceitful desires, and also the need to be continually renewed in the spirit of my mind. I’m so thankful that You tell me to put on the new self, created after Your  likeness but also that You also enable it. With You, every day is a new day for increasing righteousness and holiness.