Is there a worm in my apple?

Is there a difference between the joy of obedience and the elation of success? Tozer hints at this by saying, “God may allow His servant to succeed when He has disciplined him to a point where he does not need to succeed to be happy.”

Yesterday, someone asked me how I felt. When I replied, “Blessed” she said, “Then you are better?” I said, “Whether I am better or not, I am blessed.” I meant it.

This brought joy to her face as she agreed, and joy to my heart because the conversation was about the goodness of God rather than the emotions of how I was feeling. With these thoughts today from Tozer, I am thinking about God’s joy that does not depend on circumstances and the joy of obedience, compared to the delight most of us feel when things go well.

Tozer suggests that the person who is elated by success and cast down by failure is a carnal person whose fruit at best will have a worm in it. That is, if my emotional state depends on my performance, then my reliance on God is not total. With that, I must ask myself if I would have felt blessed even if no one talked to me and I did not say anything about being blessed? Would I experience that deepening joy of God without pointing others to the fact of it? Was I joyful simply because this was the fruit of the Spirit, or joyful because I shared it?

Yikes. As I write this, the term ‘navel gazing’ pops into mind. It would be far more profitable to ask God to reveal any “worms” than try to figure out such questions.

Tozer also say that God allows success to those who know that success does not earn God’s favor. I cannot do anything apart from Christ or the power of the Holy Spirit, so this joy is not about me anyway. God gives words to say, and if that happens, then it is God who gets the glory. He makes all goodness happen . . .

When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’ ” For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. (Psalm 75:3–7)

Joy is from God, period.

This Scripture has another practical application in a day when we are concerned about our political leaders. Do they belong where they are? God answers that by declaring He is the one who puts people in the places where He wants them. That ‘lifting up’ is only from Him, as is the putting down. A couple of other passages repeat this truth:

The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. (1 Samuel 2:7)

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. (Daniel 2:21–22)

Both the people of Canada and the USA are divided concerning our leaders. Christians are told to pray for those in places of power, but many are upset and angry with decisions and lack of decisions. All of us need to remember that the God who works all things according to His purposes has set up those leaders. He can give them what is needed to do whatever He wants done. My role is to pray accordingly.

On a personal level, I would want others to pray for me the same way — that God would put me where He wants me, give me wisdom and understanding so I am most concerned to do His will, and fill me with His Spirit that I would have the ability to obey Him. Another insight would be the realization that I am accountable to God and that He is Lord of my life. I cannot earn or deserve His favor for my acceptance is based on what Jesus Christ has done, not on me or my performance.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, this is a radical attitude shift. Personally, I’m beginning to understand what it means to me and whatever You give me to do. As for those in places of power, the idea that God is in charge might be totally foreign to them, never mind the reality that You can take them down if that is Your will. Lord, we need leaders who know and bow before You, who are humble and call out to You for wisdom, leaders whose joy is in You and not in their own successes. Yet when I pray this way, I must realize that this also applies to me. I do not lead anything, but my joy and all situations of life are in Your hands — including every breath that I take. May Your will be done!

Federal election coming up – how do I vote?

Ezekiel 30:1–31:18, Revelation 14:14–15:8, Job 37:1–8, Daniel 2:21

In Canada, the federal election happens next Monday. Of course the media focuses on claims made and the results of popularity polls. Some voters say they don’t know who to vote for. Others express disgust at name-calling in the campaigns, and many just want change without saying why or to what.

As hubby and I discuss it, we notice two things. One is that people who cry for change almost always have personal motivations behind their wants. The other is that many fail to make the connection between the costs of those changes and the fact that whatever it is will come out of their taxpayer pockets.

Actually, we also discuss a third factor, the one that gives us comfort in election time. It comes from several places in the Bible, notably Daniel 2:21: “God changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

My mother used to say of many things, “We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it.” In this case she would say that whoever gets elected, it will be what we deserve!

This actually happens throughout the biblical narrative. Today, I’m reading the following from Ezekiel: “Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’ For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down . . . . Those who support Egypt shall fall, and her proud might shall come down; from Migdol to Syene they shall fall within her by the sword . . . . And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries, and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have set fire to Egypt, and all her helpers are broken.” (Ezekiel 30:2-4, 6–8)

We will cast our votes. Nevertheless, God can retain the leadership we have, set up new leadership, or even destroy our country. He has done this to other nations in the past and can do it again if He wishes. He knows what is needed here, whether it is wise leadership or humiliating folly.

It is as Job’s young friend Elihu said, “God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.” (Job 37:5–7)

At the final judgment, those who survive the outpouring of wrath on sin will sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Following that will come more displays of the power of God. In his vision, John also saw: “The sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” (Revelation 15:3–8)

That will not likely happen, yet I will prayerfully cast my vote, recognizing the importance of listening to the Lord. He will turn the hearts of people so that the outcome fulfills His purposes for this one and for all other elections. Our hearts need to be humble when we go to the polling stations.