History does not need to keep repeating itself…

And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” 
And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 
And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. (Judges 10:9–16)

For months I’ve been thinking that the Lord is saying to this world the same thing He said to His OT people. They turned from His care and did their own thing, then ran into trouble and cried out to Him. He said they thought they had ways and means to live well without Him so He refused to bail them out.

Many in this era have ignored God, even insist that He does not exist. And as we watch things fall apart, it seems God is saying a similar thing: “You want to run your own lives? Let’s see how that works for you.”

The Israelites were distressed, but at least they recognized why they were having problems. They confessed their sin and begged God to deliver them. Were they sincere? Or were they trying to manipulate God? Only God knows motivations and the heart, but He took pity on them and sent a deliverer. However, the narrative of Judges revealed how this scenario kept repeating itself as the people “did what was right in their own eyes.”

And this history keeps repeating itself. The only way to have a genuine change of this cycle is true repentance which involves a change of mind and heart regarding sin. It is not merely saying I’m sorry because I got caught or was facing the consequences. However, it is also a gift from God, not something I can do apart from His mercy.

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)
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)

While God tells us to repent, I know from personal experience that I might feel sorry for sinning, but any change of life is not a “work” that I can do to earn favor with God. If I could turn from sin, I would not need Jesus. He said, "Repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), indicating that recognizing my need for a Savior is the first step toward receiving God's mercy. This requires faith in what Jesus has done to secure my redemption.

Repentance is also a lifestyle and the key to spiritual growth. The NT makes clear that Christians are delivered from the penalty of sin, yet all our lives God is at work to deliver us from the power of sin — and repentance is part of that process.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:7–2:1)

When first saved, my mentor had me do a Bible study on sin. God revealed so much of it, and keeps revealing it. I am not fully like Jesus, yet that is His goal. If I sin and merely make excuses, or ignore it, or try to explain it away, then I am throwing a monkey wrench into the transformation process.

Jesus, You died to save me from the biggest sin of trying to live my own life without You. You live to transform me into Your image (Romans 8:28-29) and repentance is so vital to make that transformation possible. Help me to always be honest with You regarding sin and thankful to You for the gift of repentance.

His school of higher learning…

A childhood illness kept me out of public school and away from other children for most of grades one to seven. Later, I realized how much I did not learn from being with my peers, particularly the people skills that are learned by experience. I didn’t know what to say or do in many normal situations. I felt the awkwardness of having a blank mind or no opinion rather than knowing what my peers learned from growing up in a social setting. 

When I became a Christian in my late twenties, this lack became an acute reality. However, it was not totally negative. Instead, God used it to His advantage. I did not have many worldly ideas to unlearn. I also felt like a servant coming to Him eager to learn how to live.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:2)

Many other verses became a comfort to me and an encouragement when I felt stupid or not like other people, verses like these:

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. (Psalm 25:4)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)
I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! (Psalm 119:125)
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! (Psalm 119:29)

The image of having an empty platter for Him to fill became particularly strong. Many times I’ve felt like that, particularly after seeing other Christians who seemed to know very easily what to do and say, even in awkward situations. 

Struggling to be more like that, I realized two things: one is that this is not about learning it in school but about relying on the Holy Spirit. And secondly, even when feeling blank about many things, I have a great deal of pride and can be stubborn about having ‘my way’ instead of obeying God. Doing and saying the ‘right’ thing involves being humble and lowly, teachable and willing to listen to and obey the Spirit. This is not learned in grade school either.

My part involves spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, study, and prayer, being alone with God, asking for His wisdom and trusting what He says. It helps to pray His Word, and learn of Him. Obedience is an intentional choice, but it can be stalled by unforgiveness, failure to confess my sins, and failure to be accountable to others. 

While I might have learned many things from my peers in class and on the playground, I would not have learned obedience from a changed heart. That involves lessons that come only from the Lord because He is the only one who can make the changes. This is certainly why this verse has always part of my learning experience:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

PRAY: Lord, would being in school as a child made learning about You easier? I don’t think so. It might have given me more worldly notions that require ‘mind renewal’ (Romans 12:2) and deepened my stubborn pride, but I can’t know that. I just know that You governed my life from birth to this day, and You know what still needs to be done to transform me into the image of Your Son (Romans 8:28-29). For all that You do as my Savior and Teacher, I am deeply thankful even though I realize how far I am from that goal.

Only a glove. . . .

 

While Christians cannot ‘save’ others, nor can unsaved people all by themselves make a decision to believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit works with God’s people to make things happen. Like a hand in a glove (we are the glove) He moves and reveals Himself through our obedience and our lives. Consider what the Bible says about the effect our actions can have:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

My obedience to God can cause others to glorify Him. Loving other Christians tells unbelievers that I follow Jesus. Obedience and a godly life may get me persecuted but when the Holy Spirit visits them, they will be receptive and glorify God because of what they saw.

I’ve heard said that as a forgiven child of God, I am free to live this new life, but that freedom is not about doing as I please. Gloves cannot move about or do anything without that almighty Hand that is in them.

Piper’s devotional points out that this is not just about spiritual activities. He talks about “all things” including business, industry, education, media, sports, arts, leisure, government, and all else. I’m aware that I’m not to be a mere ‘Sunday’ Christian, but to recognize Him and trust Him 24/7. Learning and doing this may take a lifetime, but His goal for me is transformation into the image of Christ. He exemplifies a perfect ‘glove’ in His yielded life.
Piper points out that there will never be a time before the return of Christ when all people will honor him as supreme. This emphasizes the importance of doing what He says now:

Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:6–10)

I’ve no idea whose lives will change because Jesus used me to show love to others, to behave as He obeyed in all areas of my life, to be motivated by the Spirit instead of following my “I-wants” instead of doing His will. But I’m finally learning that from the moment I rise up each day, to turn immediately to Him in worship and in an attitude of yielded listening. I’m only a glove so have no idea what He can do with that except that He says He can use it to change the lives of others.

PRAY: Jesus, You have a way of hugging me and making me feel very small at the same time.  I’ve no idea what this day will bring. I just want Your Spirit to keep my attention so that Your thoughts and Your will takes priority in whatever comes along.

The Law-giver on the throne is the law-keeper in my heart . . .

 

There is no human experience parallel for what God does. He makes impossible demands —then He gives what is needed to obey those demands. For this incredible grace, I often call myself God’s spoiled brat. Like a child too little for the task at hand, my heavenly Father enables me and I find myself doing what I thought was impossible — amazed at His power.

For instance, the biblical love I wrote about yesterday cannot be generated on the human level. Yet it is one of His incredible gifts to make it possible.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God . . . . We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:7; 19)

Loving one another is only the beginning. He also tells me: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). That is not natural. Most Christians will say, ‘Love the person but not the sin’ but if we are honest, we cannot get past our distaste and even hatred for sin, particularly sin that hurts us or our loved ones. We feel anger against those who do such things. However, Jesus said,

“If you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:44-47)

At that time, Israel considered tax-gatherers as traitors and Gentiles as spiritual outcasts. To love them meant dropping all prejudice and animosity. Jesus explained how God “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

The love of God goes that far for “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Regardless of sin, rebellion, shaking fists in His face, out of love, Jesus willingly endured the pain and shame of the cross and paid the price of our redemption. That is divine love in action!

I’m to love as He loves — impartially and sacrificially. Again, this sounds impossible but God enables. When He came into my life, His Holy Spirit began producing this love that He asks for. I remember sitting on my front step marveling at the change in the way I felt about people. Since then, this is still a marvel. In my flesh, I care only for myself, but when the Holy Spirit is in charge, that changes to a concern and care for others, even those hated by the rest of the world. This is a great gift.

PRAY: Jesus, from yesterday’s devotions, I’m still thinking how love requires humility, obedience, and sacrifice. You demonstrate all three perfectly. I fall short, mostly because of pride, self-interest, and wanting to be loved rather than giving it. You change all that with the power of the Holy Spirit and I am thankful. At the same time, I know full well that love is costly and does not always feel good. It caused You to sweat blood and die! Likely that will never happen to me, but love often means abandoning what I’d like to do for the sake of doing what is best for someone else. Keep forgiving my selfishness and replacing it with Your love for others. Help me be more than willing to love all, including enemies, more perfectly.

PONDER: I just read “The Last Thing He Said to Me” which is a work of fiction, but without intending it, this story demonstrates the love of God. The protagonist gave up everything that was important to her so she could love and care for someone who hated her. This story is a timely and powerful example to me of how God’s love is far beyond my human capacity and how much I need to live in the power of God’s Spirit.

 

 

A more excellent way

 

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

Love is a common word but biblical love is an uncommon experience. In common use, it often means a desire for something or someone for my enjoyment or comfort. I love chocolate, color, nature, and a host of other things that fall into that category, but the Word of God tells me that people should not be loved like that — for what they do for me. Nor should God.

Instead, biblical love comes from God and I cannot do it on my own. The Bible says, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” This love was demonstrated at the Cross where: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:5-8)

That kind of love is characterized by humility, obedience to God, and self-sacrifice. Humility is demonstrated by Jesus when He washed His disciples dirty feet, a task done by servants.

(Jesus) rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him . . . . When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:4–17)

Obedience is also what it means to love God. Jesus said it of Himself: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works . . . . but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father . . . .” (John 14:10; 31)

He also described it as the way I’m to show love for Him: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) That obedience demonstrates love is repeated often in the NT.

Sacrifice is also part of God’s love. John 3:16 says it well: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus came from perfection to a sin-mucked up world to give us forgiveness and life eternal. While I cannot do that for people, I am sent to love them the same way — at a cost. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

Humility is necessary for obedience. If I think I can do anything by myself and without God, pride keeps me from obedience and from loving others. And obedience leads to sacrifice. Sometimes that is giving up my great ideas. Sometimes it means giving up time, effort, money and other personal and prized possessions. Obedience can call for patience when I’d rather be doing something else, silence when I’d like to talk about me, enduring when I’d rather walk away, giving in rather than giving up. All three of love’s characteristics are a challenge. All three wear me out. Love is not easy.

PRAY: Oh, Lord, for the joy set before You, You endured. You knew that the results of loving would be astonishing and everlasting. You also know that keeping focus on what is to come is a trust issue. You trusted the Father when He sent You to die. You are my example in how I need to persevere when it seems like love is a losing matter. Keep me going, I pray, granting wisdom and grace to walk in love no matter the cost.

PONDER: Think how vital it is to look again at Jesus when I am not certain how to love others, particularly those who reject me or treat me as if I am a fool.