From Complaining to Cooperation

Having a slight touch of autism means that I work hard to interpret the behavior of others. If someone is complaining, are they in trouble, or crying for help, or thinking they deserve better, or just having a bad day? However, the Word of God has been helping me understand many things, not from a human perspective (we tend to make excuses for everything) but seeing it from God’s perspective. This is what He says about complaining:

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:14–15)

For a Christian, complaining is not a godly behavior but a blemish. It essentially is denying the wisdom of God in the affairs of my life and blatantly saying that He does not know what He is doing, or not doing the right thing, and He does not care about my comfort.

The Word of God is clear: that is not the right attitude to have. It is shutting my eyes and heart to God’s love and wisdom, and not understanding His will. He allows all things that He can use for good, meaning the ‘good’ of being transformed into the image of His Son. If I need correction, He gives it. If I complain about it instead of cooperating with it, I stay the same and miss the point.

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)

God’s priority is transformation. Complaining misses it. Cooperation brings me into a joyful place of “I get it” and changes my reaction to the stuff that I once belly-ached about. 

This is like the disciple of a parent with a far greater reason behind it than wanting me to learn how to grow up: “For they 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 12:10)

After seeing God’s purpose for me and how He can use even hardship and tough situations to change my life, then the following verses (and many more) become my focus and my joy:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

As the reading for today says, grumbling is evidence of little faith in the gracious providence of God in all the affairs of my life. Complaining reveals that I do not believe in God’s promises. Complaining dishonors God. It belittles his sovereignty, wisdom and goodness. It also thinks I know more about what is good for me than He does.

In other words, if my faith is strong, I will not grumble. Instead, I will remember that God is always good, not just when life feels good. And if I want to shine as a light in this world, then I must not let complaining obscure God’s gracious, all-controlling providence. Instead, I am learning to be thankful and obey Him in all ways so that His glory shines rather than be marred by my selfish pride. A passion for the goodness and wisdom of God is a passion to grumble no more.

PRAY: Lord, thank You for opening my heart to this reality that You are my Lord. You are good to me and are saving me and transforming me. You actually rejoice over me with gladness as You quiet me by Your love. You even exult over me with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Whatever can I complain about when I am given the wonder of Your goodness and love!

Why trust God?

 

The foundation of trust in God begins with knowing He exists and being convinced that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). That trust is attacked when circumstances challenge it. Is God rewarding me when people treat me badly? Or when my body is suffering with pain? Or when doubts come about His goodness for any reason?

The Word of God says He never changes, that His goodness is firm and everlasting. But human faith fluctuates when I stop thinking about God as He has revealed Himself and start measuring Him by the world’s ideas, the comfort level in my life, or the whispers of spiritual enemies that are contrary to what He says.

And yet the principal foundation of faith is not the word of God, but God himself, and God is good, the rewarder of those who seek Him. The Bible says, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) and by this same goodness, He also leads me to reliance. 

I recall many ‘little’ things, like parking places, workmen fixing without charge things we didn’t know were broken, encouraging phone calls at just the right time, finding the answer to problems when I called out for His help, and how all of that came from His goodness.

If I don’t believe God is good, how could I believe anything that He speaks or promises? If anyone else made a promise to me, I’d trust them only if… but when God makes a promise, His goodness gives credit to what He says. Years of seeing Him come through for me builds my faith, yet His goodness is always there, even if I cannot see it.

Some people acknowledge the power of God, yet without seeing His goodness motivating His power, He is not trusted. Actually, power without good intentions is dangerous, yet as Charnock says, God’s good will without power would be useless. Those who ‘mean well’ but never follow through do not create confidence in themselves, but because God does what He does rooted in His goodness, I am learning to deeply trust Him, even when His powerful actions make no sense or His wisdom in what He does escapes me.

Much of OT faith seems to be built on God’s power. However Hosea wrote: “Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.” (Hosea 3:5) Their fear, meaning faith and worship, would be seen flowing from His goodness.

I’m learning to trust God’s power and wisdom, yet also His goodness. This makes faith deeper and more certain. If I do not understand the means or the why, relying on His goodness in all that happens becomes vital. This wonder and truth settles me far more than any glimpses of knowing why this action or event is happening. As my mother often said, “We must need it or we would not be getting it” and I can rely on ‘whatever’ with greater assurance knowing that God is good and whatever “it” might be, it comes from His goodness.

PRAY: Your Word says much of Your goodness and how that goodness satisfies Your people. I am glad to know that goodness is behind all that You do. “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” (Psalm 27:13) I also rejoice because: 

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4–7)

Because of You, I’ve access to this goodness and not only that, this is the fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and my life can be lived with the same motivation. This is a most humbling thought and a great blessing. Amen.

Created to be different…

 

Yesterday I took an online test from a medical source and discovered what I and others have suspected — I have a combination of attention deficit disorder and a mild form of autism. It is called AuDHD. This is not a diagnosis but a term to describe that these two conditions can exist simultaneously. The confusion comes because the traits of each can interact and influence each other. When I described this to my hubby, he vigorously nodded his head. 

I’ve often wondered how he manages to put up with me. One source says individuals with AuDHD may experience difficulties with focus, impulsivity, and social interaction, while also exhibiting sensory sensitivities, repetitive behaviors, or intense interests. One difficulty I’ve struggled with is a desire to fit in when I know that I am not like most other people. When meeting one person, she said she had heard of me and expected me to be different. I replied, “Well, I am different.” Everyone laughed but me. 

Skipping the complex descriptions, I felt a bit relieved to understand that God created me “different” and had a reason for doing so. This came today as I read in Charnock’s superior book about God’s goodness. This popped out (and the editor in me modified it a tad):

He is good to all, though not in the same degree: “The whole earth is full of his mercy” (Psalm 119:64). A good man is good to his cattle and his employees. He makes provision for all, but not the same as he bestows upon his children. 
The NT speaks of various gifts, and yet one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4) gives a variety to each from His goodness. In other words, the drops of water as well as the fuller streams are from the same fountain. Although He does not make all His children  partake of the full riches of his grace after they are reborn, this does not disgrace His goodness. This does not mean He is cruel.

I’d just randomly selected a wallpaper for my screen. It is shown above and says, “Why do you work so hard to fit in when you are called to be set apart?” (2 Corinthians 6:17) This desire to fit in and the stress it can cause was suddenly a joy and a delight. Being different is the same as the Lord’s description of His people in His Word… 

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:14–25)

Yet with all this, I’ve learned something vital: if I am walking in the flesh, the confusing mixture of AuDHD reigns, but when God fills me with His Spirit, none of it shows up. The key is awareness of when I slip into fleshy thinking and actions and must keep short accounts with God by confessing it and receiving forgiveness and cleansing. Then I need to rely on Him for total obedience. He is always ready to grant His goodness!

PRAY: At this point in life, You are giving me great freedom in knowing You and knowing myself. This helps me better understand the needs of people. I can discern what to say and do to care for them far better than ever before. I don’t need to fit in — at least not in with most of the world. I just need to become more like You and am so glad for Your goodness that enables even what seems impossible. Thank You so much!
 

What motivates God?

Today’s reading points to the sinfulness of man and raises the question of why did God allow Adam and Eve a choice regarding that forbidden fruit? He could have made them unable to even want it. 

 Instead of focusing on our sinfulness and how it is so easily provoked, another reading asks a different question. Would it be wise of God to create humans in His own image, people with freedom to live in freedom — and yet restrain that creature from following its liberty? Would it be good of God to force His creation to be happy against their will? Adam was given power to to live in faith. Would it be contrary to God's goodness to deny Adam the free use of that power? 

To make a creature, and not let that creature act according to the freedom of his nature, would make us puppets. No way He make a law to govern His rational creatures and then give them no choice but to obey it. That would not be called obedience. It would defy the goodness in God to create humans with liberty and then govern us in the same manner as He created animals to be governed by their God-given instincts.

Rather. God made the world that the riches of His nature could be communicated to others by many means, particularly those made in His image. He did not richly bless us to make Himself happier. Instead, His Word says we are “to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good” (Deuteronomy 10:13) not for His good. Otherwise, who and what God is would be unknown to anyone but Himself.

In other words, God intended to communicate His goodness in creation, not to acquire any goodness, or excellency from creation. He wants His goodness to be known and  acknowledged. All His works are motivated by His goodness. Wisdom is involved in His creative work as is His power, yet goodness motivates His actions.

“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” (1 Timothy 4:4) The psalmist expressed this also:

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (Psalm 4:6–7)

How then does sin affect the goodness of God? Not at all…

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (Romans 3:3)

Instead our fall into sin is not a blemish to His goodness, but provides His way of redemption that destroys the works of sin and the devil and glorifies God. Even sin the goodness of His grace! Contrary to worldly thinking, sin opens the door to finding out more about God’s mercy and goodness: 

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:32–33)

PRAY: I have to say that even though You do not want me to sin, and You command me to obey and give me the power to do it through your marvelous salvation work, when I do fail and choose to do my own thing rather than Your will, You are still good. In mercy and grace You restore me and grant me forgiveness to move on toward the righteousness that You, in great goodness, want for me. Even so, the most blessed result is a renewed ability to know and worship You.

Loving His Surprises

 

READ Luke 17-20

The past few weeks I’ve been asking God to surprise me. I told someone and she said, “I’d be scared to do that. It might be a surprise that I didn’t like.”

Is our loving Father into those kinds of surprises? He says:

“Count is Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4)

It seems to me that a God who uses trials for my good isn’t into giving nasty surprises.

Yesterday was filled with good ones! Remarks about answered prayer from one who does not know Christ. Words of love and compassion not expected. Two lovely books about prayer that had me speechless for several minutes because of the giver and how they had been selected. Much more. God poured out His goodness.

This reading shows more. He shows the wonder of repentance and forgiveness and says that faith is not measured by little or more but by on or off. “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:6) He points out that obeying Him is not a big deal but merely doing our duty. Simple stuff.

Faith means trusting Him to heal and if I’m not sure, I can ask what He is trying to show me through allowing the trial of being sick. The kingdom of God is about His rule in my heart, not about Him sitting on a throne and waving a scepter, at least not yet. When that kind of kingdom comes, everyone will know it and the world will be turned upside-down.

Prayer is about learning persistence, not losing heart. it is about a faith that will not let go. It is also about realizing I’ve no reason to consider myself worthy — only by God’s mercy is this sinner justified! He wants me to trust Him like a child. Children don’t need long explanations for why they trust; they just do.

I also need to recognize things in my life that keep me from trusting God. Am I so proud that I trust myself? Am I so rich that I trust my money? Am I so ‘good’ that I think I don’t need Him? Does the notion of giving up all I have make me cling to it rather than be willing? Am I afraid His rewards will not be enough? And do I deeply understand why Jesus had to die?

 When Jesus touches the lives of others, I need to rejoice, not be critical or full of envy. Jesus “came to seek and to save the lost” and that includes me, but also the entire world. Heaven rejoices when one person repents; so ought I rejoice!

At times I’ve wanted to start a Bible school or do some other ‘great’ thing, but God did not call me to that. I’m to be faithful with whatever He has given me. Sinful ambitions do not please Him. Before Jesus died, He entered Jerusalem riding a colt. It could have been a magnificent stallion. Even though the people welcomed Him with praise and were rebuked by the Pharisees, soon all would shout, “Crucify Him.” I need to beware of my own fickle heart and not let it refuse to praise Him if I don’t like His surprises.

Jesus wept over the city that rejected and killed Him. He cleansed the temple and taught there daily, but they did not realize that each one who believed later would become His temple and receive His daily teaching. Instead, they challenged His authority and mocked Him, angered by His reminders them that “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (20:17-18)

They tried to trick Him so they could justify their hatred, but He was onto them. “And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.” (20:26) The Sadducees tried other trick questions, but He answered well, and “they no longer dared to ask Him any question.” Instead, He asked them a few and they were stymied — as He told the people of their hypocrisy and pride.

Jesus surprises people at every turn. He does the unexpected but never the inappropriate, even toward those who wanted to destroy Him. How can those who love Him worry that He will be nasty or surprise us with something that is not a blessing? His goal is to transform us into His image.

When I was in seminary, old enough to be a grandmother to many of the students, one of them asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I said, “A sweet little old lady” with the goal of being like Jesus in my mind. I cannot think of anything better and must trust Him for any surprises He uses to make it happen.