Be still. . . .

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1–3, 10–11)

As I read this, the upstairs television features a podcast with a few people discussing world events with strong opinions of what is happening and how to fix it. They are anxious and worried. 

Downstairs my Bible features a song of faith that initially fixes the fear then gives solutions such as: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” (Vs. 4–5)
He can do this because He is “the Lord of hosts” and “with us” and “our fortress.” “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.” (Vs. 9)

On a Sunday morning, the sun is shining, trees leaf out, birds sing. They know nothing of the wars and struggles or the major problems that plague the human mind. The cosmos, even the sparrows and trees thrive in the care of their Maker. They know how to be still in the knowledge of God. And we humans are supposed to be made in His image and rated as the highest in His creation?

What fools we are to create strife and problems because of our own selfishness and then argue and even scream at each other trying to fix it, still with our own selfish ideas and goals. Instead of being still and trusting God.

Lord Jesus, we need a revival of renewed faith, of awareness and conviction of such sinfulness, of repentance that is deeply serious and able to be still and know You, the One who can make all things right and at peace. Visit us and be exalted in this twisted up place called earth.

 

Why Study?

 

My folks were told that I would not live past sixteen. As a result, they protected me rather than teaching me how to live. As a young adult, I felt uninformed and unable to deal with many of life’s situations. After becoming a Christian, this ignorance didn’t seem to be a handicap because it drove me to the Bible to find out how and turned out to be a good thing.

However, Bible study has its challenges. One is hinted at in this verse:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Rightly handling the Word of truth means abandoning personal ideas and I-wants, never twisting Scripture  to mean what I want it to mean. Right study knows that the Holy Spirit will aid in the process, but I cannot rely on whatever I think He is putting into my head without seeking confirmation from God’s Word. That takes a lifetime of reading and remembering.

The Bible is God’s “user manual” for the people He created. After studying it for more than fifty years, I realize that it covers all things and presents them in fresh ways. Doing the math, that means the Lord has presented truth to me in more than 17,000 days and certain is my guide for life.

When MacArthur asks if Bible study is necessary at all, I almost laugh at the absurdity of the question. He goes on to say that some believers think that the Holy Spirit teaches us everything so study is not important. This idea seems to stem from these verses:

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 John 2:24–27)

This passage is more about protection from false teachers who deny Christ and try to deceive believers than it is an excuse not to study. Some lies and false teaching sound good, yet our inner ‘lie detector’ gives discernment to shield us from false doctrine. Not only that, even if we are tempted by their arguments, He keeps us from drifting away. The Bible even says that those who do drift away were not Christians in the first place:

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19)

The Holy Spirit does protect us, yet God still tells me to study the Word diligently and to handle it accurately. He also tells me the attitude I should have toward it and that its truths need to have a priority in my mind: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)

Feeling ‘blank’ about a lot of things motivates me to seek out the way God wants me to think, but that does not eliminate the reality of Satan’s lies, the world’s pull, or the desires of the flesh. Life is a battle against sin. I cannot claim ignorance as an excuse for failure or not knowing what to do. God spells out truth and direction in His Word so I can know both — as well as have the ability to fight sin and obey God.

PRAY: Jesus, I am so thankful for the Bible, and for You and the Holy Spirit. You make clear how I am to think and live as I read what You say. Your Word is precious and vital. You tell me: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8) and have proven this to me over and over. Thank You. Give me an even deeper love for Your Word!

PONDER: Consider the opportunities God gives to convey spiritual truth to others. Can I do this better by rightly handling His Word? What skills do I need? How can I improve?

 

 

Another new path

2 Kings 24; Psalm 143; Joel 3; Hebrew 6

I have a flip chart of recipe cards on rings. Each card has a focus thought for the day, basically to help my scattered mind meditate on truth from God. Most of them contrast spirit-filled attitudes with selfish sinful attitudes. Sometimes they say exactly what I need to hear that day.

This morning, the card that came up was entitled: “HUMILITY vs. Seeking Honor” with the further instruction to, “Recognize and honor God and others who are responsible for my achievements and victories.” Along with this are the following verses:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10)

I’d done something yesterday hoping for a pat on the back. I didn’t get it. However, God helped me honor those who had accomplished the same goal. This morning, God reminded me that I must continually seek His honor and glory, not my own. Doing this begins with first and always seeking His guidance each day:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

A book I’m reading exhorts me to think more deeply about the truths that God brings each day. Humbling ourselves isn’t popular. Few people do it well or do it at all, mainly because starting the day at the feet of Jesus is a discipline, as is giving over to Him control of the path I walk, never mind figuring out what that path looks like and how to take the necessary steps.

The prayer is like this: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:4) with this incentive to do it: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14) yet the motivation is elusive. Most people, including myself, have a daily routine that is necessary. My responsibilities and chore lists beg the question, “Why seek God’s way for doing stuff that I know how to do?”

One verse from today’s readings hit me with a few ideas for both humbling myself and seeking His ways:

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8)

First, the love of God tells me that His way will be best for me. I can trust Him to guide me in a path that is good, profitable, fruitful, and joyful.

Second, I trust Him. Can I say that and continue to do my own thing? Trust is expressed by seeking what He wants for me; it is not about doing what I do out of habit or self-reliance.

Third, He must make His way known to me. I read last night about a man who God taught to worship while he was changing diapers. It was unusual but brought joy to him rather than resentment in the task. I’ve much to learn and need God to make it known!

Fourth, this involves lifting my soul up to Him and here is where the humility comes in even more. I’ve learned that the human soul is about intellect, emotions and volition. When I was unsaved, those faculties were governed by external things and I-wants. As a believer, my soul is brought under the power and leading of my regenerated spirit and the Spirit of God. However, this is a choice. That is, I can rely on my own understanding, or trust in the Lord — whose ways are higher than my ways. I can let emotions rule or let the Lord God rule my emotions. I can choose my own way or follow the ways of God.

Making these choices takes commitment and determination but also practice. It requires dropping pride in my own abilities — meaning humility. It means saying and thinking that God knows better, consciously and deliberately, rather than habitually going about my day without considering His way for those chores that have been habitually performed for many years.

APPLY: Meditation on what God says, lots of thought about how this works. Follow through. Pray about everything instead of praying about those things that seem to need prayer — which would mean forming a new habit. Humbling means realizing that I know nothing about the ways of God when it comes to many daily duties. Again, life with Jesus is an adventure, always into new territory and always making me realize how little I know about Him — and myself.