Grace under fire?

In regard to yesterday’s thoughts, God gave me an idea of how I can ‘visit’ orphans in Brazil or other places by using technology. Only two issues: the recipients must also have the same technology, and we must both speak the same language. I’ve sent this idea to a mission in Brazil and I am waiting for their response.

In the meantime, Piper’s devotional raises a question: Is zeal for doing good praised or persecuted? He points to this passage:

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:13–16)

This reminds me of the playground ditty, “My Dad is bigger than your dad” sometimes used to challenge attackers. If someone is critical of what I do in obedience to Jesus, He will defend me, or at least bless me. I’m not to be afraid or even troubled by any opposition. Key is not my feelings about criticism but what I do about it. Imaginary conversation:

“What is the reason you are doing that? What good will it do?”

“I’m not sure. I only know that Jesus is able to use small offerings, such as five loaves and two fish, to bless a great number of people. I’ve no idea what He will do with what I’m doing. I just know that He prompted the idea, not me. I have no special skill or insight into His plan, only that He wants this done.”

While my imagination gives me a sense of what Jesus wants when I am questioned or doubted, He does make another promise:

Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10:17–20)

Piper talks about future grace and this is a good example. God gives me what I need when I need it, not before. This means I have no need to plan my conversations or try to figure out what to say ahead of time. These verses are not about ‘sermon preparation’ or ‘lesson planning’ but about those times when my hope in Christ is challenged, either verbally or with extreme persecution.

Where I live, the legal system prevents others from tossing Christians in jail for their faith. However, we know people from other countries where the legal system did the tossing. They testify to the power of God who kept them at peace even when they could not speak to defend themselves. Their testimonies demonstrate that God is bigger than any threat that I might ever face.

PRAY: Jesus, whether I see Your great power in the lives of others, or someday need that same power in my own life, You are faithful to keep Your promise to be my Rock and Defender, also my source to do good and use my voice to speak with gentleness and respect, even when abused and treated harshly. Thank You for such great grace.

Crabby or Holy?

We landed in Barbados yesterday afternoon, picked up our rental car and drove to a well-worn but clean resort that my hubby had purchased for a generous discount in a silent auction. After unpacking, we found a restaurant then came back to our room prepared for some decent sleep. We’d flown all night and were exhausted. 

My hubby jumped in the shower and realized he was not alone. Up on the shower wall was a cockroach almost as large as a mouse. Neither one of us panic over bugs, but we wanted this one dead and gone. The roach had other ideas. He took a leap and scrambled under the bed. At that, we decided we didn’t want even the threat of it crawling around while we were asleep. The management came with spray and no guarantees, and a key to another room. They suggested we at least sleep in that new room, which we did, then moved our belongings here this morning. 

How can faith be practical in a situation like this? Today’s devotional verses say this…

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 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.” (1 Peter 1:13–16)

Being sober-minded yet prepared for action does not happen as easily when I miss a night of sleep. This is why “grace” is included in these verses. Only the grace of God can keep anyone thinking soberly during the unexpected events of life, even little things like bugs and total exhaustion. 

Yet these verses talk also of a future grace, that grace that will be mine when I see Jesus. Sitting here in a smaller room than the one with the bug, and not as nice as the one with the bug, just the thought of seeing Jesus lifts my spirits. Instead of grumbling and annoyance at the events of the past twelve hours, which are “passions of my former ignorance” I am starting to feel that joy that only the Holy Spirit can give.

These verses also say to be holy in all my conduct. That word means pure and blameless, but it also means “other than” as it describes God who is far beyond what we are. He is so pure and blameless that we can scarcely imagine His holiness. For me, that means that when irritations happen, I’m not to react to them as I would have before God changed my life. Instead, I’m to be like God, who I cannot imagine getting in a flap over either a big bug or having to move down the hall so He could sleep without the presence of a big bug.

Faith is practical. Instead of feeling out of joint over this little bump in our vacation, the grace of God is giving me a different attitude. We are where He wants us. The day will be brighter because He is our God and we are under His care. 

Bugs or no bugs, holiness is about what goes on in my heart. Because Jesus lives there, I am lifted above my former passions and self-centered attitudes. Holiness is not only my calling, but entirely possible because of the grace of God.

Look at where I am going

Yesterday I heard a radio preacher say that whenever anyone sees the face of God, nothing else can make them afraid. David could face Goliath without fear for he had seen the face of God.

This morning, I read this from John Piper’s book, Future Grace: “When something drops into your life that seems to threaten your future, remember this: the first shockwaves of the bomb are not sin. The real danger is yielding to them. Giving in. Putting up no spiritual fight. And the root of that surrender is unbelief—a failure to fight for faith in future grace. A failure to cherish all that God promises to be for us in Jesus.”

In the past week, I’ve had a threat to my future. Thoughts jump around inside my head, thoughts of heart failure in various forms or becoming weak and too frail to function normally. I’m not ready for this. Even though I’m not filled with panic and feel more thoughtful than anxious, God seems to know that I need to hear from Him.. Today’s reading clearly speaks to me about the attitude He wants me to have.

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. (Hebrews 12:1–2)

The focus in the reading is on “despising the shame” which is, to me, a peculiar phrase. It means that Jesus gave no thought to, and even looked down on the idea of being put to death in a horrible manner. To Him, the future glory with its eternal joy was such a great reality that whatever happened to Him in this present world meant nothing. He could shrug it off and remain with great perseverance under the trial of dying.

Stories of martyred missionaries come to mind. In the past year, I’ve read at least a dozen of them. Some were tortured, beheaded, burned, yet in each story, these faithful Christians “despised the shame” of what was happening to them. Some died with praise to God on their lips.

I feel ashamed of my little faith. My situation is a mere (and even mild) threat compared to the incredible example of Jesus under a far more severe reality. Growing old and facing death for me is nothing like the way He suffered, nor can it be compared to the way those missionaries suffered, yet His attitude came out in their lives and sustained them in a marvelous way.

No one wants to suffer with prolonged illness or die before a “ripe old age” yet know this is not for me to determine. My “race is set before me” on a course that God decides; my part is to run it with endurance, with the vision of Jesus before me. Because of Him, I have the hope of great joy for all eternity and that hope can allow me to also despise the shame of whatever happens here. 

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Lord, I thought I had a good attitude before I read this, but You make me realize that I’ve only a small idea of what it means to “despise the shame” of running a race that I cannot control. I’m also not thinking about the joy set before me as much as I should. I know what it lies ahead at the end of my run, but my focus has not been like Your focus. I confess being weighted down with negative attitudes, sinful fears and eyes that are looking at all sorts of things beside You. Forgive me for letting these things rob me of the joy You have set before me and help me keep my eyes on You.

Future grace affects me today

My mother had an aversion to drunkenness, but she told me about one uncle who was often in that state and she seldom got angry at him. She said, that was “just Willie.” Of the same person she might say, “Oh, he meant well.”

I’m not sure about that uncle; he was before my time, but I do know what it feels like to mean well and not quite measure up. Sometimes I want to say just the right thing and the words won’t come out. Sometimes I want to do something good and my efforts fall short.

When it comes walking with God, meaning well and doing well often have a gap between them. I want to serve God with all my heart, but don’t realize how contrary my heart can be. Days go by and I’ve not accomplished anything for Him, not even had a decent time of prayer. I long to change that and mean well, but more often than not, I fall short.

For that reason, today’s reading comforts me. It is Psalm 65:1 and says, “Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.”

One day all the promises I’ve made to God about my own behavior and commitment to Him will be true and fulfilled. One day my praise will not be interrupted or sound hollow. One day my love for Him will be perfectly expressed. One day He will perfect me.

This is not an excuse for here and now. I’m still wanting to be a more dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and more deeply committed to the will of God and serving Him. However, knowing that in redemption and His plan of salvation, God also includes provision for the fact that I continue to fall short in every way, is a blessing. Because of His love for me and His great plan and gracious power, one day I will be all that I want to be, even all that He wants me to be. This is an amazing promise.

It is also reassuring, even exciting, but practical too. Knowing that His future grace will transform me totally when I enter into the fullness of His presence has the effect of turning my heart toward Him. With that, it also has the potential to shorten the gap between meaning well and doing well — even today.