Accepting God’s rebukes

This morning I was upset at my spouse for using something in the pantry that I’d planned to use for Christmas dinner. It didn’t take the Lord long to remind me that He could feel like that every time I forget to do what He plans. But I know His patience. Sigh. I often do not have it.

He tells me this; that I need to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and run with endurance the race that is set before me.” To do this, I must keep looking to Him who is the founder and perfecter of my faith. He endured the cross, considered the shame worthless, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. He endure all hostility for the joy set before Him and did it so I would not grow weary or fainthearted. My struggle against sin has never made me shed blood. (Hebrews 12:1–4)

It was a kind rebuke. I know He loves me and wants me to be like Him. I also know that rebuke is another evidence that I belong to Him and am a child of God. He patiently endures the sins of those who are not, but treats me as a good father treats his child and disciplines me for my good, that I may share his holiness. What is a mere staple from the pantry compared to having the patience and kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ? 

A little spanking is nothing compared to what any sin deserves. As I prayed, He reminded me that I am in a kingdom that cannot be shaken. His rebukes enable me to offer acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for my God is a consuming fire and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His love and care never change. (Hebrews 13:8)

At that, I went upstairs to make my usual drink, either lemon/honey or herbal tea, and thought how much good this has done to my body. Then I read this:

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. (Hebrews 13:9)

I almost laughed. God’s grace is my health and energy. While He might use whatever I eat or drink to make me healthy, my heart is stronger because of God’s unconditional care and kindness. 

And He wants me to pass that along. He adds: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16) This is another reminder: The love of God is like the love of Jesus — it involves sacrifice, giving up what I’d like to keep for myself and sharing it with others — like that item in the pantry and much more.

PRAY: Oh Lord, the God of peace who brought You from the dead, and made You the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of Your eternal covenant, I must rely on You to equip me with everything good that I may do Your will. Work in me whatever is pleasing in Your sight, and may You be glorified forever and ever. Amen.

 

God’s Protection — from the inside and out . . .

 

 

READ Psalm 120–124

In a farming community we had a neighbor whose wife was physically much larger than he was. Some of the other neighbors used to affectionately tease them that she was his “heat in the winter and shade in the summer.” I thought of them when reading this passage today:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:1–8)

As loving and protective as this wife may have been toward her husband, she serves as only a small example of God’s care for his family. Sometimes that care is outward and visible as He removes problems and answers pleas for relief. Sometimes His care is inward as He gives His people the ability to stand strong even in the challenges of life. What is the greater victory — having the rocks removed from the river? Or having the water made deeper than the threats it contains? Either way, my help comes from the Lord and I rejoice!

I also want God’s people to focus on this marvel. Sometimes the problems seem too much and the prayers are only for their removal rather than that deeper water that enables joy in sorrow and praise in pain. For that reason, when I read these verses, I thought that Jerusalem could be a reference to the people of God more than this specific city. It speaks to inner security, inner peace, even that “peace that surpasses all understanding” written about in the NT:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. (Psalm 122:6–9)

That does not mean ignoring the struggles of others and asking God for only one kind of answer to their situation. When someone is hungry, I should feed them, not expect them to have a fasting mentality and bear with it. When someone has lost their job or a loved one or is ill, I should pray for a new job, for comfort, for healing — as well as the sense of God’s presence and His peace as they struggle in their situation. The NT has many appeals to His children to do good, such as . . .

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9–10)

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

This does not mean trying to meet every need. Proverbs 3:27 qualifies it with: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”

Right now, people we know are taking in singles, couples, even large families that are refugees from persecution or have fled the war in the Ukraine. Some are giving goods and finances for their support and to meet physical needs. Prayers go up. Help is given regarding employment and for education needs as well as the emotional support for trauma experiences and spiritual support for the devastation in their souls.

This is one segment of the needy world we live in. It can be overwhelming until I think about the enormity of God. Yet He asks me only to do what He enables me to do and knows how to take care of the rest.

 

Our Helper

This morning I woke up still feeling tired and alone. My hubby was here but only for a few minutes before going to work. The house is quiet. The newspaper is full of mud and election promises. Today is my workout day at the fitness center. I wanted to go back to bed. Then my devotions begin with these words:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17)

The disciples just realized Jesus was leaving them. They thought they would be alone. Their world was shattered. This was not good news. What would they do without Him? They must have felt like crawling into a hole and pulling the dirt over them. However, retreating was not their assignment. Jesus told them more. Not only would the Holy Spirit be with them, even live in them, He would do much more . . .

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26–27)

This holy Helper would be their teacher, their truth. He would pick up where Jesus left off, teaching them everything they needed to know and empowering them to do it. His testimony about Jesus Christ would agree with their experience of Him. They would know truth in their hearts because the life of Christ would be right there with them:

For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:7–12)

John was certain of these things. He’d already declared them in his Gospel and now declared them in his three letters to the Christian churches:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:1–4)

What gave them the courage to share their Christian experience with others? With Peter, John said it just came out because “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

This is a mild rebuke to me today. I’m sleepy and feel a bit crabby, certainly not in the mood to speak of what I have seen and heard concerning Jesus. This requires the Helper and my mood indicates that I’ve let me take over rather than relying on Him.

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

Lord, I cannot witness to Your life and work when focused on myself. I confess that I’m thinking more about me than You and my thoughts are about petty things. I am sorry. I need You to fill me, enabling me to do what becomes easy when Your Spirit is at work. Thank You for the promises You have made, and that You keep them. Help me. I always need Your help.